Trail’s End — A colorful history of the first university in Colorado

When the Colorado Territorial legislatures had finally, after 15 years, crafted a state Constitution both Colorado citizens, as well as Washington, D.C., accepted, there was a curious amendment; funding for a state university. And so with Colorado statehood granted in August 1876, the University of Colorado came into existence.

The original Colorado Territorial Legislature of 1861 introduced the idea in its’ bid for United States Congressional recognition. However, this was not a very lucrative enticement for voters, as higher education was considered unnecessary by most in the 19th century. Yet, by the time Colorado gained statehood, most had forgotten the university bill, but there it was in the state’s Constitution, and so the lawmakers were stuck with it. Boulder resident and former Territorial legislator, David Nichols, discovered the oversight and immediately lobbied Colorado lawmakers to build the promised university. With several cities in contention, the proximity to the state capital at Denver and the backdrop of the Flat Iron Mountains against the Rockies, Boulder won the honors. With matching state funds, Nichols secured $15,000 from Boulder residents. Two prominent Boulderites, founding father Anthony Arnett and Capt. Clinton Tyler, each donated sections of their land holdings for the site of the university.

The university was founded, as it were, with the first brick-laying ceremony of the main campus building, fittingly dubbed Old Main only five months before Colorado was admitted to the Union. Speeches and adulation abounded. With all the hope and praise, those in attendance on that fortuitous day had no idea that over time the university would produce six Nobel Laureates, a Supreme Court Judge, as well as 17 astronauts, either as students, teachers or faculty administrators.

This early 20th century photo shows the Mary Rippon outdoor theater. Photos courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western History Collection.

The doors of the university opened on Sept. 5, 1877. The beautiful red sandstone building stood four stories tall, a commanding structure at the base of the Flatirons to the west. The building known as Old Main is now at the center of the campus, as the university has steadily grown around it. Enrollment for that first year consisted of 15 students. In the years to come, the university would develop a preparatory school at that campus to prepare high school students for enrollment in higher education.

The architecture style at the CU campus is a type of Italian Rural Architecture found in the northern mountains of Italy. The wonderful blend of locally quarried stone from nearby Lyons, lends to a harmonious setting against the Flat Irons west of Boulder. Characteristic to this style are the roughly textured red sandstone walls topped by the multileveled sloping red tiled roofs. Developed more than 20 years and still used in any additions or expansions, it is unique to the university setting at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

CU is a school of firsts. With limited funding, there were only three teachers that first year in 1877. Yet CU boldly broke new ground when the third teaching position was offered to Mary Rippon. Rippon became the first female instructor not only at CU, she also became the first woman in the United States to teach men at a state university. Professor Rippon was so popular with the students that when an attempt by the regents to replace her with a male instructor was made known, the students staged a revolt. Rippon spent the next 57 years as a language professor at CU. The popular Boulder campus theater is named in her honor.

Old Main, the first building on the Boulder campus.

Other firsts include the largest medical school facilities “west of the Mississippi.” Completed in 1924, the facility has produced doctors, surgeons and a host medical professionals. The program recently expanded to the “satellite” learning center at the abandoned Fitzsimons location in Aurora. During the Arms Race of the 1950s and 60s, CU grew with the expansion of astrophysics and atomic physics programs, rendering CU among the top in science exploration fields. And in 1976, Rachel Noel became the first African-American female to serve on the board of regents.

Since the founding of the university in 1876, and its official opening in 1877, more than 300,000 graduates with degrees in hand, have passed through the hallowed halls. Several educational departments, schools within the university, include the College of Arts and Science, by far the largest, as well as the Colleges of Engineering, Education, Journalism, Law, and the Leeds School of Business. Nearly all levels of further education at the university, consisting of 85 majors, offer master degrees, and doctorate level degree programs.

The University of Colorado also offers a fabulous athletic program and competes nationally in college basketball and football with the beloved CU Buffaloes. Social interaction, not withstanding, great music, concerts and dance are a big part of the campus atmosphere. I know from personal experience. Back in my college days, some of my greatest memories come from trips to the CU campus, and Folsom Field in particular. Who can forget the great concerts, particularly the “Summer Series” of 1977 and 1978? Great rock bands like Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seger, the Beach Boys, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and Colorado’s own Firefall, all played for the studious enrollees and their comrades at CU.

Indeed, there is something for everyone at CU, including great times and great memories. “I think CU is underrated, under appreciated and stereotyped as a party school,” a school consultant said. She may be right.  But then she went on to say, “It really changed my life going there. I hope that doesn’t get lost

The history of the institution and the education, as well as memories of the many alumni, further the community that is the pride and glory of Colorado’s first state university.