Elephants + the Early Days of the Colorado State Fair

It may come as a surprise to learn that the Colorado State Fair actually predates Colorado’s statehood, but the annual celebration has, in fact, been around since 1872, roughly four years before Colorado became a state.

The First Colorado State Fair was Held in 1872

The Colorado State Fair was officially inaugurated on October 9, 1872, in Pueblo, Colorado. The fair, which was organized by the Southern Colorado Agricultural and Industrial Association.

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The inaugural fair, which was held without any financial assistance from the state, was accompanied by a parade, but not your typical parade by any means. In fact, a parade of elephants marched down the Pueblo streets, a spectacle that would be incredibly difficult to pull off today.

The Colorado State Fair + its Numerous Locations

The Colorado State Fair was officially incorporated on November 17, 1886, and was held on 50 acres near Pueblo’s Mineral Palace Park, which was purchased for $3,000, and this is where it remained until 1890.

After selling the land for $48,000 in 1890, the fair moved to a different location west of Lake Minnequa, a 100-acre plot of land purchased for $30,000.

The Colorado State Fair would be held at this site for 11 years before moving yet again, this time to its current, 102-acre location at 1001 Beulah Avenue.

Since its inception, the Colorado State Fair has been held every year with the exception of a period between 1917 and 1918 due to World War I, and another period between 1942 and 1945 because of World War II.

Read More: Wildlife Wonders: Colorado's Mountain Lions, Wolves, And Black Bears

While the Colorado State Fair was technically held in 2020, it was converted to a drive-thru type of event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.