Longmont 155 | Colorado 150 | United States 250
Celebrating 155 years of Longmont
Did you know 2026 marks not one, not two, but three significant anniversaries?
In 2026, Longmont turns 155, Colorado will celebrate 150 years of Statehood, and the United States will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. These triplet milestones are a rare and exciting opportunity to unite with our community in celebration of our past and to imagine our future together.
In Longmont, we will mark these anniversaries by exploring the history of our city and by hosting commemorative events and activities.
Check out the Celebrations Calendar below, invite your friends and family to join in the fun, and follow along as we journey through history and celebrate together!
Celebrations Calendar
Longmont Legacy
with Erik Mason,
Longmont Museum Director
As we celebrate Colorado’s 150th birthday and 155 years since Longmont’s founding, we’re sharing special stories about Longmont’s history in this column by Longmont Museum Director Erik Mason. This month, we’re talking about the history of Longmont’s parks.
Longmont’s founders thought of the need for green space before a single tree was planted. The original plan for Longmont, from 1871, shows three parks: Thompson, Collyer and Lake Park (now Roosevelt Park). A first festival, Pumpkin Pie Day, happened in Thompson Park in the early 1900s. Roosevelt Park has been the site of horse racing, auto racing, bicycle racing, baseball and football games, dances, and even the Boulder County Fair.
As Longmont grew, so did its parks system, spreading green space and recreational amenities across the community. The St. Vrain Greenway began as a privately funded effort, and now stretches eight miles through Longmont, connecting parks, trails and public artwork along the St. Vrain River.
In the Spotlight:
Historic Photos of Longmont Parks and Gardens
Captions:
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- Kanemoto Park and the Tower of Compassion in 1988
- A black and white photographic postcard titled “Rose Memorial” with photos of the park, flowering rose bushes plus individual photos of roses.
- A Lions club member wearing the club hat and vest, white shirt and tie is standing in the park holding a rose and overlooking the rose garden.
- Loomiller Park in 1968.
- Lanyon Park Plan, c. 1965-1970
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Explore More History with Longmont’s Virtual Tours
Women of Longmont Virtual Tour
Discover the lives of influential women who helped make Longmont the vibrant, community-focused town it is today.
Historic Downtown Virtual Tour
Enjoy historic photographs, text, and audio recordings that virtually walk you through more than a dozen downtown locations.
Latino History Virtual Tour
This tour explores Longmont’s Latino neighborhoods and heritage while honoring some of the many sacrifices, challenges and successes experienced by this remarkable community.
Is Sesquisemiquincentennial a real word?
It sure is! You may see “Sesquisemiquincentennial” used around the state of Colorado this year. In 2026, Colorado celebrates its 150th anniversary of statehood (sesquicentennial) and the United State’s 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Learn about more celebrations around the state on the History Colorado website.
Sesquicentennial + Semiquincentennial = Sesquisemiquincentennial
The City of Longmont, in collaboration with the American 250-Colorado 150 Commission, celebrates this unique anniversary year by looking back at Longmont’s 155 years of history. Follow this webpage to learn more about how you can celebrate with us, in person and online!
