Colorado By brooklyn111508 1706 Juan de Ulibarri explores area around present-day Pueblo 1779 Juan baustista de anza joins with the Utes to fight the Comanches 1806 Zebulon Pike leads an expedition explores area around present-day Pueblo 1858 Prospectors look for gold in cherry creek Jan 8, 1876 Colorado becomes the 38th state! 1891 Gold discovered at Cripple creek 1923 Benjamin F. stapleton is elected mayor of Denver 1927 Moffat Tunnel opens 1958 U.S. Air force Academy opens 1995 Denver International Airport opens