Jan. 24 Colorado statehood first-day ceremony includes remarks from governor

Feb 19, 2026, 12 PM

By Trevor Bills

On Jan. 24 the United States Postal Service issued a new commemorative forever stamp celebrating 150 years of Colorado statehood in a dedication ceremony at the History Colorado Center in Denver.

History Colorado, the state agency serving as Colorado’s historic preservation office, manages 11 state museums and historic sites. The date of the first-day ceremony coincided with the opening of a new exhibit at the center, titled “Mountains Majesty: On the Summit with John Fielder.”

This exhibit features several photographs by renowned nature photographer John Fielder (1950-2023), including the photo of Jagged Mountain that was chosen for use on the stamp. The exhibit is the third installment in a five-year series of rotating exhibits featuring photographs by Fielder, who donated more than 6,000 photos to History Colorado.

The ceremony began with opening remarks from master of ceremonies Dawn DiPrince, president and CEO of History Colorado.

DiPrince said, “Colorado is special because of the natural landscape that is so spectacular. John captured the landscape in the way that shows how we feel about it, so it’s very fitting that one of his images was chosen to represent our beloved state on a postage stamp for this milestone birthday.”

She continued, “This small piece of Colorado is shown on the national stage, carrying the message and beauty of Colorado beyond our borders on mail across the country and the world.”

Next, the Colorado State Patrol Honor Guard provided the presentation of colors and Port of Entry officer Josiah Huerta performed the national anthem.

The dedicating official for the ceremony was Colorado native and chair of the Postal Service’s board of governors Amber McReynolds.

McReynolds said, “I am incredibly proud to be a Coloradoan, sharing this joyful occasion and special day. Colorado’s journey to statehood began long before it ever appeared on a map. For generations, Native American nations lived on and cared for this land. Then came the explorers, trappers and miners who traveled west because they believed it held a brighter future, camps turned into towns and dreams turned into communities. On Aug. 1, 1876, 100 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, Colorado entered the union as the 38th state, the centennial state.”

She continued, “The history of Colorado is linked with the history of the Postal Service, as settlers moved westward, they needed a secure and reliable way to exchange information. Their search for economic opportunity led to the expansion of post offices which strengthened our democracy.” McReynolds concluded by saying, “The commemorative stamp program honors the best in American history. This stamp is a truly beautiful tribute to our state.”

After the stamp was unveiled, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis spoke about the stamp design process and his history with the U.S. Postal Service. “My grandfather worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 40 years in New York City. I grew up with those stories, and I collected coins and stamps growing up,” he said.

Polis shared that before he entered public service, he was an entrepreneur and got his initial seed capital through a USPS error. “I was a college student at Princeton University and purchased some Legends of the West stamp sheets at our local post office. I later found out that the sheet was an error showing Ben Pickett instead of Bill Pickett. There were only a few dozen sheets, the rest had been recalled, so I was able to sell the sheet for $5,000 and launch the internet access provider that I started.”

Gov. Polis continued, saying, “We are excited to honor our state’s 150th anniversary by showcasing the beautiful Jagged Mountain in the San Juan Range, one of Colorado’s most beautiful thirteeners [peaks between 13,000 and 13,999 feet in elevation].”

He spoke about how Fielder is one of the most renowned photographers of Colorado’s landscapes, and that Fielder donated all of his photographic archives to the state of Colorado, which are cared for by History Colorado.

He also spoke about the stamp design process, saying, “When this project started, the USPS showed us a few possible designs for the stamp and we said ‘No, it’s got to be a Fielder.’ We sent them to work with History Colorado and the Fielder family, and I think Jagged Mountain was a great choice to represent our state well.”

The final speaker at the ceremony was Katherine Mercier, the exhibition developer and historian from History Colorado who curated the new exhibit showcasing Fielder’s photography.

Mercier explained that the photos displayed in the exhibit were selected by some of the museum’s members after combing through the vast Fielder photography archives. “Some of our members said that Fielder’s photographs were a powerful introduction to the state when they moved here. Others said the photos introduced them to Colorado’s plains and rivers. This exhibition is a reminder that these are not just photos, the landscapes have an impact on our lives in Colorado, and we are grateful to the community for their support.”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, attendees were invited to explore the new photography exhibit and the rest of the museum. There was no formal autograph session for the ceremony program.

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