科羅拉多州的歷史

The History of Colorado

Colorado, known as the Centennial State because it joined the Union in 1876, is rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage, and historical significance. From its early indigenous inhabitants to its central role in the expansion of the American West, Colorado’s history spans thousands of years and reflects the confluence of cultures, exploration, and innovation.

科羅拉多州的歷史

科羅拉多州被稱為「百年州」（The Centennial State），因為它於1876年加入聯邦，正值美國獨立一百週年。科羅拉多州以其壯麗的自然景觀、多元的文化和重要的歷史地位而聞名。從早期的原住民到今天美國西部擴張中的核心角色，科羅拉多州的歷史橫跨數千年，展現了文化、探索與創新的融合。

Prehistoric and Indigenous History

Long before European explorers arrived, Colorado was home to numerous Native American tribes and prehistoric cultures. Evidence of human habitation in the region dates back more than 13,000 years.

• Paleo-Indians and Ancient Cultures:
  The earliest known inhabitants were the Paleo-Indians, including the Clovis and Folsom cultures, who lived in the region around 11,000 BCE. These hunter-gatherers relied on large game like mammoths and bison for sustenance. Archaeological sites, such as the Lindenmeier Site near Fort Collins, provide evidence of their tools and lifestyle.

• Ancestral Puebloans:
  Between 600 and 1300 CE, the Ancestral Puebloans (formerly known as the Anasazi) developed advanced civilizations in the Four Corners region, including southwestern Colorado. They built elaborate cliff dwellings, such as those found at Mesa Verde National Park, which are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These communities cultivated corn, beans, and squash and developed intricate pottery and weaving techniques.

• Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Tribes:
  By the time of European contact, Colorado was home to various Native American tribes, including the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Apache, and Comanche. The Ute people, the state’s longest continuous residents, lived primarily in the mountainous regions and adapted to Colorado’s diverse environments.

史前時期與原住民歷史

在歐洲探險家到來之前，科羅拉多州是眾多美洲原住民部落和史前文化的家園。該地區的有人類活動可追溯到13,000多年前。

• 古印第安人與遠古文化：
  最早的居民是古印第安人，包括克洛維斯（Clovis）和福爾瑟姆（Folsom）文化，他們大約在公元前11,000年生活於此。這些狩獵採集者以猛獁象和野牛為食，留下的考古遺址如位於柯林斯堡附近的林登邁爾遺址（Lindenmeier Site）證明了他們的生活方式。

• 普韋布洛祖先：
  從公元600年至1300年，普韋布洛祖先（Ancestral Puebloans，又稱阿納薩齊人）在科羅拉多州西南部的「四角地區」建立了高度發達的文明。他們建造了如梅薩維德國家公園（Mesa Verde National Park）中的懸崖住宅，這些遺址現已成為聯合國教科文組織世界遺產。他們種植玉米、豆類和南瓜，並發展了精緻的陶器和織布技術。

• 尤特族、夏安族和阿拉帕霍族：
  當歐洲人接觸到這片土地時，科羅拉多州已是尤特族、夏安族、阿拉帕霍族、阿帕契族和科曼奇族等多個部落的家園。其中，尤特族是該州持續居住時間最長的居民，他們主要生活在科羅拉多州的山區，並適應了多樣的自然環境。

European Exploration and Early Settlement (1540–1800s)

The first Europeans to explore Colorado were Spaniards during the 16th century. They were drawn by rumors of gold and the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola.

• Spanish Exploration:
  In 1540, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led an expedition into the American Southwest, including parts of what is now southern Colorado. While they did not find gold, they mapped the region and established trade routes. Later, in 1776, Spanish priests Dominguez and Escalante attempted to find a route from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Monterey, California, passing through western Colorado.

• Fur Trade and French Influence:
  During the 18th and early 19th centuries, French and American trappers ventured into Colorado’s mountains in search of beaver pelts. These trappers, known as mountain men, established trading posts and paved the way for future settlers.

歐洲探險與早期定居（1540年–1800年代）

16世紀，第一批歐洲探險家——西班牙人來到科羅拉多州。他們被傳說中的黃金和「七座黃金城」（Seven Cities of Cibola）所吸引。

• 西班牙探險：
  1540年，弗朗西斯科·巴斯克斯·德·科羅納多（Francisco Vázquez de Coronado）領導了一次探險，進入美國西南部，包括現今科羅拉多州的南部地區。儘管他們未能找到黃金，但他們繪製了地圖並建立了貿易路線。1776年，西班牙神父多明戈斯（Dominguez）和埃斯卡蘭特（Escalante）試圖找到從新墨西哥州聖達菲到加利福尼亞蒙特雷的路線，途經科羅拉多州西部。

• 皮草貿易與法國影響：
  在18世紀至19世紀初，法國和美國的毛皮商進入科羅拉多州的山區，尋找海狸皮毛。他們被稱為山地人，建立了貿易站，為後來的定居者鋪平了道路。

The Louisiana Purchase and Early American Exploration (1803–1840s)

In 1803, the United States acquired the eastern portion of Colorado through the Louisiana Purchase. The western part remained under Spanish and later Mexican control until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.

• Lewis and Clark Expedition:
  Although the famous Lewis and Clark expedition did not pass through Colorado, their journey inspired further exploration of the western territories.

• Zebulon Pike:
  In 1806, Zebulon Pike led an expedition to explore the southern portion of the Louisiana Territory. His journey through Colorado is best remembered for his failed attempt to climb the peak now named in his honor, Pikes Peak. Pike’s exploration brought attention to the region’s rugged beauty and natural resources.

• John C. Frémont:
  During the 1840s, explorer John C. Frémont conducted expeditions through Colorado, mapping its terrain and promoting westward expansion.

路易斯安那購地與美國早期探險（1803年–1840年代）

1803年，美國通過路易斯安那購地獲得了科羅拉多州東部地區。該州的西部直到1848年的瓜達盧佩·伊達爾戈條約（Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo）才從西班牙和墨西哥手中轉移到美國。

• 劉易斯與克拉克遠征：
  雖然劉易斯與克拉克的遠征未經過科羅拉多州，但他們的探索激勵了對西部領土的進一步探險。

• 澤布隆·派克：
  1806年，澤布隆·派克（Zebulon Pike）帶領探險隊探索路易斯安那領地的南部。他試圖攀登後來以他命名的派克峰（Pikes Peak），但未成功。派克的遠征引起了人們對這片崎嶇美景和自然資源的關注。

• 約翰·C·弗里蒙特：
  1840年代，探險家約翰·C·弗里蒙特（John C. Frémont）多次穿越科羅拉多州，繪製地圖並促進了西部擴張。

The Colorado Gold Rush (1858–1861)

The discovery of gold in Colorado marked a turning point in the region’s history, attracting tens of thousands of settlers and prospectors.

• Gold Discovered in Cherry Creek:
  In 1858, gold was discovered at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, near present-day Denver. This discovery sparked the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, named for the nearby mountain, even though no gold was found on Pikes Peak itself.

• Boomtowns and Mining Settlements:
  Prospectors flooded the region, establishing boomtowns like Denver, Central City, and Leadville. While some struck it rich, many others faced hardship in the harsh conditions. The rush also led to increased tensions with Native American tribes as settlers encroached on their lands.

科羅拉多淘金熱（1858年–1861年）

在科羅拉多州發現黃金標誌著該地區歷史的轉折點，吸引了數以萬計的定居者和淘金者。

• 櫻桃溪的黃金發現：
  1858年，在櫻桃溪（Cherry Creek）和南普拉特河（South Platte River）交匯處（現代丹佛附近）發現了黃金。這一發現引發了「派克峰淘金熱」（Pike’s Peak Gold Rush），吸引了成千上萬的移民。

• 繁榮城鎮與採礦定居點：
  淘金者湧入該地區，建立了如丹佛、中央城（Central City）和萊德維爾（Leadville）等繁榮城鎮。儘管一些人發了財，但許多人在惡劣的環境下遭遇挫折。此舉也加劇了與原住民部落之間的緊張關係。

Statehood and the American West (1861–1876)

Colorado became a territory in 1861, just before the outbreak of the Civil War. Its strategic location and resources played a role in westward expansion and national development.

• Sand Creek Massacre:
  One of the darkest chapters in Colorado’s history occurred in 1864, when a militia led by Colonel John Chivington attacked a peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho people at Sand Creek, killing hundreds, including women and children. This event intensified conflicts between settlers and Native American tribes.

• Transcontinental Railroad:
  The arrival of the railroad in the 1870s transformed Colorado, connecting it to national markets and facilitating the growth of mining, agriculture, and ranching. Denver became a transportation hub and the state’s largest city.

• Statehood:
  On August 1, 1876, Colorado was admitted to the Union as the 38th state, coinciding with the centennial of American independence, earning it the nickname "The Centennial State."

建州與美國西部的發展（1861年–1876年）

科羅拉多州於1861年成為領地，就在美國內戰爆發前夕。其戰略位置和資源在西部擴張和國家發展中發揮了重要作用。

• 桑德溪大屠殺：
  1864年，科羅拉多歷史中最黑暗的篇章之一發生。約翰·奇溫頓上校（Colonel John Chivington）率領民兵襲擊了一個和平的夏安族和阿拉帕霍族營地，導致數百名婦女和兒童被殺。此事件加劇了定居者與原住民部落之間的衝突。

• 橫貫大陸鐵路：
  1870年代，鐵路的到來改變了科羅拉多州，將其與全國市場相連，促進了採礦、農業和牧場業的增長。丹佛成為交通樞紐和該州最大的城市。

• 建州：
  1876年8月1日，科羅拉多州正式成為美國第38個州，因與美國建國百年同年而得名「百年州」。

Mining, Agriculture, and Growth (Late 19th to Early 20th Century)

• Silver Boom and Bust:
  In the late 19th century, silver mining overshadowed gold mining, with Leadville becoming a major silver-mining center. However, the collapse of silver prices in 1893 devastated the state’s economy.

• Agricultural Development:
  Advances in irrigation allowed settlers to farm in Colorado’s arid regions, particularly in the eastern plains. Wheat, corn, and livestock became major agricultural products.

• Tourism and Outdoor Recreation:
  Colorado’s natural beauty began attracting tourists, with destinations like Estes Park and Colorado Springs becoming popular for their scenic vistas and health benefits.

採礦、農業與發展（19世紀晚期至20世紀初）

• 銀礦繁榮與衰退：
  19世紀晚期，銀礦業超越了黃金採礦，萊德維爾成為主要的銀礦中心。然而，1893年銀價崩潰對州經濟造成了重大打擊。

• 農業發展：
  灌溉技術的進步使定居者得以在科羅拉多州乾旱地區種植農作物。小麥、玉米和牲畜成為主要農產品。

• 旅遊業與戶外休閒：
  科羅拉多州的自然美景開始吸引遊客，埃斯蒂斯公園（Estes Park）和科羅拉多泉（Colorado Springs）等地成為熱門目的地，以其壯麗的風景和健康益處而聞名。

Modern Colorado (20th Century to Present)

• World Wars and Industry:
  During World War I and II, Colorado contributed to the war effort through mining and manufacturing. The state’s oil and gas industries grew significantly in the mid-20th century.

• Civil Rights and Social Change:
  Colorado was a leader in civil rights movements, including the fight for Native American rights and environmental protection. In the 1970s, the state hosted environmental summits that shaped national policy.

• Modern Economy and Innovation:
  Today, Colorado is a hub for technology, aerospace, and renewable energy. Cities like Boulder and Denver are known for their innovation and startup culture. The legalization of recreational cannabis in 2012 positioned Colorado as a pioneer in progressive social policies.

• Tourism and Outdoor Activities:
  Colorado remains a top destination for skiing, hiking, and exploring national parks like Rocky Mountain National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park.

現代科羅拉多州（20世紀至今）

• 世界大戰與工業：
  在一戰和二戰期間，科羅拉多州通過採礦和製造業為戰爭做出了重要貢獻。20世紀中期，該州的石油和天然氣產業快速發展。

• 公民權利與社會變革：
  科羅拉多州在公民權利運動中發揮了領導作用，包括爭取原住民權利和環境保護的鬥爭。1970年代，該州舉辦的環保峰會塑造了全國政策。

• 現代經濟與創新：
  如今，科羅拉多州是科技、航天和可再生能源的中心。博爾德（Boulder）和丹佛等城市以創新和初創文化而聞名。2012年，科羅拉多州通過娛樂性大麻合法化，成為進步社會政策的先驅。

• 旅遊業與戶外活動：
  科羅拉多州依然是滑雪、遠足和探索國家公園的首選目的地，如落基山國家公園（Rocky Mountain National Park）和大沙丘國家公園（Great Sand Dunes National Park）。

Conclusion

Colorado’s history is a tapestry of diverse cultures, dramatic transformations, and natural wonders. From its indigenous roots to its role in shaping the American West, Colorado has played a vital part in the nation’s story while carving out its unique identity as a state of resilience, innovation, and beauty.

結語

科羅拉多州的歷史是一幅融合多元文化、重大轉變和自然奇觀的畫卷。從其原住民的根基到塑造美國西部的重要角色，科羅拉多州在國家歷史中扮演著重要角色，同時也以其堅韌、創新和美麗的形象為自己贏得了獨特的地位。