Does anyone else feel like the 1980s were only 10 or so years ago? I feel the same way, but guess what? This memorable decade ended nearly 30 years ago! Since A LOT can change in 30-some years, we decided to take a look back at this fresh decade in Colorado history via these 18 rare photos:

1. Kiowa, 1981.
History Colorado/2000.168.1014
2. "Digital copy of a film negative taken by photographer Juan Espinosa, documenting Chicano land rights activists and their families protesting at Taylor Ranch in the San Luis Valley in 1981 to demonstrate their traditional rights to the land. The march was part of a decades-long battle between the descendants of Hispanic land grant holders, who claimed rights to access and use the land at Taylor Ranch for water, hunting, grazing and firewood, and ranch owner Jack Taylor, who barred their access to his ranch lands."
History Colorado/2016.87.83
3. "Slide developed July 1982... Taken during training at Mesa Verde National park."
Flickr/judylcrook
4. Great Sand Dunes, 1982.
Flickr/Kevin Dooley
5. "The westbound Rio Grande Zephyr in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. April 1983."
Flickr/Bruce Fingerhood
6. "Remembering my early college days at CU Boulder, 1983. Enjoying a visit with my aunt, mother, father (not pictured) and younger cousin."
Flickr/OakleyOriginals
7. "I-70 construction in Glenwood Canyon as seen from Amtrak (1984)."
Flickr/judylcrook
8. Denver, 1985.
Flickr/Kurt Haubrich
9. Denver State Capitol, 1985.
Flickr/fossilmike

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10. "Field Trip, 50th Annual Meeting, Society for American Archaeology, Denver, Colorado 1985."
Flickr/fossilmike
11. Maroon Bells, 1986.
Flickr/Tim Carter
12. South Park, 1986.
Flickr/Scott Shatto
13. "Ignacio, Colorado 1987."
Flickr/Phillip Capper
14. Green Mountain Falls, 1987.
Flickr/frank thompson photos
15. "Cross Country Skiing in Snowmass (1988)."
Flickr/Susan Smith
16. Mancos, 1988.
Flickr/Roadsidepictures
17. Denver Skyline, 1989.
Flickr/rjones0856
18. "Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado 1989."
Flickr/fossilmike

For even more historic fun, check out 11 Insane Things That Happened In Colorado You Won’t Find in History Books!

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