10 Surprising Firsts That Colorado Can Proudly Claim

Believe it or not, Colorado has contributed so much more to society than winter sports and craft beer. From political milestones to iconic inventions, our impact reaches far beyond the slopes. Once you learn about these Colorado firsts, you may never look at the Centennial State the same way again.

1. We Invented This Classic Child Toy...

The teddy bear is said to have been invented by maids at the Hotel Colorado as a gift for President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. According to the hotel's website, the president stayed in the hotel in 1905, attending state business and even going on a bear hunting expedition. One account claims that after the president returned from an unsuccessful bear hunt, the maids "patched together a bear sewn from pieces of old fabric" to cheer him up.

2. And the Root Beer Float

Among the things invented in Colorado, the root beer float is arguably one of the tastiest. Legend says the root beer float was invented by a Colorado man who thought the snow on top of Cow Mountain looked like ice cream floating in soda. While some historians may say otherwise, we'll have to agree to disagree.

3. Colorado Was the First State to Reject Hosting the Olympic Games...

Denver withdrew its offer to host the 1976 Winter Olympics. Colorado voters rejected a $5 million bond issue to fund the games. The citizens of Colorado voted to make it a violation of Colorado's constitution for state funds to be allocated toward the event.

4. And the First State to Hold a Rodeo

The country's first rodeo was held on July 4th, 1869, in Deer Trail, CO. While other states such as New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas claim to the achievement, Deer Trail is recognized by the Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame, the Colorado State Legislature, the History Channel, and the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first rodeo in the world on official records. Fun fact: The grand prize winner of that very first rodeo walked away with a new suit as his reward.

5. We Trademarked Cheeseburgers...

In 1935, Louis Ballast, owner of the of Humpty-Dumpty Barrel Restaurant in Denver, trademarked the cheeseburger. There's even a plaque dedicated to him outside the location of his former restaurant. Among things Colorado was first to do, we can all thank Ballast for trademarking this delicious and iconic American meal.

6. And Legalized Recreational Marijuana

Colorado voted to allow medical marijuana sales in the year 2000. In 2012, along with Washington, we became one of the first two states to legalize recreational marijuana. Today, just 24 states have legalized cannabis for recreation use.

7. Coloradans Were the First to Have Shatter-Proof Phones

The shatterproof Otterbox was invented in Fort Collins in 1998 by Curt Richardson and David Bridge. The brand grew from a garage into an industry-leading juggernaut for technology accessories. Thanks to them, we can now drop our phones without worries.

8. We Were the First State to Give Women the Vote By Popular Referendum

Technically, Wyoming was the first state to grant women's suffrage as part of their constitution in 1890. However, we were the first to grant women's voting rights by referendum on November 7, 1893, making us the second state to do so overall. It still counts!

9. You Can Thank Us for One of the Best Fast Food Restaurants Known to Man

We didn't stop at cheeseburgers. The first Chipotle opened in Denver on July 13, 1993, and has become a beloved nationwide food staple, vastly growing in popularity ever since. Chipotle has revolutionized fast casual food and there are over 3,000 locations around the world today.

10. Colorado Was the First State to Xeriscape

Denver Water invented "xeriscaping" during a drought in 1981. The landscaping technique reduces the need for irrigation by using native and drought-resistant plants. With this method, we can conserve water while still creating aesthetically appealing landscapes.

For more Colorado history, check out these inventions from Denver Colorado. Planning a trip to the Centennial State? Check out the Only in Your State Itinerary Planner to make sure you don't miss a thing!