By Ronald Hernandez Jr., July 5th, 2026
In La Junta, the annual Wet Parade brought hundreds of residents to the streets yesterday, turning the dry, plain hills country town into a community-wide water war. The celebration carried great significance this year, falling on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a national milestone that leads into Colorado’s own sesquicentennial, as the state prepares to mark 150 years of statehood on August 1st.
Video: Ronald Hernandez Jr./Arkitekt Creations
As the U.S.A and its visitors from around the world celebrate the Fourth of July, the document that helped make this possible is sitting enclosed in a glass case in the nation’s capital of Washington D.C., that document being the Declaration of Independence.
A five-member committee of Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Livingston, and Sherman began drafting the Declaration on June 11, 1776.
The document explains why the colonies declared independence, outlines basic human rights and the idea that people can change or abolish destructive governments, and lists grievances against King George III such as tyranny, unfair taxes, dissolving legislature, keeping standing armies, and obstructing justice.
Next, the Declaration addresses how the attempts of the colonists to petition were ignored, their warnings dismissed, and appeals failed while The King responded with further injury. Finally, the document declares the colonies to be free and independent states, absolved of the allegiance of the Crown, and have the full powers of sovereign nations.
After several revisions through June 28th, Congress received it on July 2 following the approval of the Lee Resolution. The Declaration of Independence was officially adopted on July 4th, 1776.
Colorado, The Anniversary Companion
This year, The United States will not be alone in the festivities, Colorado is also putting its party hats on and setting up the food booths. On August 1st, the Rocky Mountain state will celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary, aligning two unique signings.
Colorado’s Constitutional Convention met from December 1875 to March 14th, 1876, to draft the state first constitution required for statehood. Its 75 delegates debated major issues, including prior appropriation of water rights, declaring water a public resource, and establishing agricultural protections.
They also debated protecting mining from monopolies, limiting state borrowing through taxation, ensuring due process rights, creating a mandatory public school system, and establishing a bicameral legislature.
Finally, on March 14, 1876, the Colorado Constitution was completed. After being approved by Colorado voters, congress, and signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, Colorado became a state on August 1, 1867, giving it the nickname, “The Centennial State.”
As Colorado and the nation mark this historic milestone, take a moment to explore the stories and events that shaped both our state and the United States.
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