Colorado Celebrates the 4th of July

PUEBLO PAGEANT

GREAT DAY IN THE PITTSBURGH OF THE WEST

TWENTY THOUSAND VISITORS

Parade One of the Most Imposing Spectacles
Ever Witnessed in That City.

Pueblo, July 4 ...During the entire day bands were stationed at the principal street corners and rendered sweet music to the vast crowd.... The program today was opened by a grand salute of thirteen guns at sunrise and about 8 o'clock the traffic on the streets became very heavy. Floats of a historical character could be seen everywhere; also floats belonging to the industrial parade, which numbered over 150.
[The Denver Times, July 5, 1899]

Boys seem captivated by a nautical float in Victor, Colorado.

"The parade will take place at 10 a.m. which will include the speakers of the day and other prominent visitors in carriages, the various lodges, La Junta cadets in uniform, Santa Fe shop men and a gorgeous decorated bicycle parade in which everybody who owns a wheel is invited to participate."
[The Denver Times, July 2, 1899]

"1878, Fourth of July commenced in Georgetown early in the morning, in fact so early that it was difficult for many to tell whether it was 'the day we celebrate' or the day before. The first orator of the day was a can of nitro-glycerin, which was followed by 'Iron-Clad Dick,' who grew a little monotonous to some before morning."
[Georgetown Courier, July 5, 1878]

Police and firemen led the parades. Drum corps and marching bands followed, ahead of decorated carriages and patriotic floats. Veterans, fraternal orders and secret societies in full regalia added to the spectacle.

Revelers crowd the parade route in Cripple Creek, Colorado, 1893.

Elks Club wives show off on the hilly streets of Ouray, Colorado.

Year after year, each town boasted that the celebration was the best in its history. All additions to the parade were welcome -- sometimes the next best thing to having a race car was dressing up the buggy!

The Ouray Teamsters and Packers Union float showcased the workers' daughters.

Colorado Celebrates the 4th of July