RTD, History Colorado Center partner to celebrate the U.S. 250th and Colorado 150th anniversaries
To celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Colorado’s statehood, RTD is encouraging customers to take transit to experience History Colorado Center’s special exhibitions as well as debuting a bus wrapped to denote history that shaped the nation’s beginnings
DENVER (March 9, 2026) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is partnering with the History Colorado Center to celebrate the U.S. 250th and Colorado 150th anniversaries this year. History Colorado Center, a state-of-the-art cultural venue in the heart of Denver, is recognizing the significant milestones with commemorative exhibitions, and RTD is sharing ways the community can take public transit to experience them. As part of the celebration, RTD is debuting a commemoratively wrapped bus that displays artwork inspired by the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Colorado’s statehood. The bus is now traveling throughout the Denver-metro service area. Customers can learn more about the exhibitions and explore travel options by visiting RTD’s History Colorado Center webpage or use Next Ride to plan their trip to experience the exhibitions.
History Colorado Center exhibitions and dates available
- Expedition 1776: The Journey of Domínguez and Escalante shows how at the same time that the founding fathers were signing the Declaration of Independence on the East coast, one of the earliest European expeditions was traversing the treacherous terrain of the West. The expedition’s impacts rippled through the region for centuries to come. Open through Aug. 2.
- Aug. 1 marks Colorado’s 150th birthday and the 38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State explores Colorado’s long road to statehood. The first four attempts throughout the 1860s were derailed by questions like who should be allowed to vote and what policies the government should adopt. Open through Sept. 6.
- July 4 marks the U.S.’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The marquee exhibition Moments that Made US assembles rare treasures from American history never before seen together. Visitors will see artifacts spanning eight centuries that represent 50 turning points in our nation’s shared past. Objects include Jackie Robinson’s baseball bat, George Washington’s spurs, rocks from the Apollo Moon Mission and much more. Open through Oct. 18.
These exhibitions are presented with support from the America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission and other partners.
Transit options to History Colorado Center
1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Customers can use the following bus or rail options to experience the exhibitions:
- Bus Route 0 to the Lincoln Street and 13th Avenue stop
- Bus Route 32 to Civic Center Station followed by a two-block walk south on Broadway
- D or H light rail lines to the Theatre District•Convention Center Station, followed by a short walk a few blocks south on Broadway
Using the Next Ride app enables individuals to view itineraries and plan travel to the History Colorado Center from start to finish. Customers may enter “Colorado Anniversary” or “US Anniversary” as the destination to see route options.
RTD’s Zero Fare for Youth program makes visiting the exhibits more affordable for families with kids or students 19 and under who can ride bus or rail services at no cost. For customers over 19, paying fare is now more convenient with Tap-n-Ride which accepts a Mastercard, Visa, or mobile wallet with a quick tap at any validator.
Learn more about the anniversaries and how RTD is teaming up with the History Colorado Center at https://www.rtd-denver.com/historycolorado.
RTD’s partnership with History Colorado Center supports the community’s ability to honor the milestones that forged Colorado and the U.S. while helping to make lives better through connections.