The Broomcorn Express, Quarterly Publication of the Broomfield Historical Society
Vol. 6, No. 1, January – March 2026
BY DAVID ALLISON
History and Museum Supervisor, City and County of Broomfield
In 1975, Broomfield organized a Centennial/Bicentennial Commission that was tasked with finding ways to celebrate and commemorate the 100th anniversary of Colorado’s statehood and the 200th anniversary of the US becoming a country.
The Commission focused first on purchasing (in conjunction with the Broomfield Jaycees) the Broomfield Depot from the Colorado and Southern Railroad and moving it to an open site near the Lac Amora development. The Depot building had been a tax burden for the Colorado and Southern since it ceased operation earlier in the 1970s, and the Jaycees were excited to preserve a “landmark” of the recently-passed history of Broomfield. The proposed park where the Depot would be located was described as “Zang Centennial Park.” Today this park is known as Zang Spur Park, with “Centennial” dropped from the name.
The Centennial/Bicentennial Commission planned a number of events throughout the year 1976, with a big kickoff for the year occurring on Feb. 26, 1976 at Broomfield High School, with patriotic music sung by choirs, speeches, and an official designation of Broomfield as a Centennial-Bicentennial City by the State of Colorado.
Activities culminated in Broomfield on July 4 with a large parade and the groundbreaking for the new location of the Broomfield Depot. The Honorary Queen of the Community, Viola Crooks, was honored at the parade and the opening of the Broomfield Depot. The day rounded out with a cow pie-throwing contest between the mayors of Lafayette, Louisville and Broomfield and (of course) fireworks.
Emerald Elementary also had a patriotic event at the school and created a large patchwork quilt commemorating the Bicentennial. This quilt is in the Broomfield History Collection, along with numerous other flags, memorabilia, and documents.
As 2026 and the planned activities to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Colorado statehood and the 250th anniversary of the United States round into form, it behooves us to “look back” on what our community was doing in 1976 and to know that the footprints we leave, in the way we choose to remember the past, matters for the future.
Here are some new links and photos of objects we have in the Broomfield History Collection celebrating the 1776–1976 Bicentennial, and we’ve included some images of when Broomfield became a county in 2001. Digital newspaper clippings are from Colorado Historical Newspapers.
Newspaper articles:
- Bicentennial Ceremony in Broomfield https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=FEE19760211-01.2.6&srpos=7&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- President Ford Bicentennial message to Broomfield as a designated Colorado Centennial and Bicentennial City https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=FEE19760630-01.2.49&srpos=2&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- Photos from the Bicentennial Ceremony https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=FEE19760303-01.2.26&srpos=11&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- Mayor Spader’s Honor America Proclamation https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=FEE19760616-01.2.8&srpos=16&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- Gifts and ‘Circle of Flags’ at Depot and Zang Spur Centennial Park (Centennial Park) https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=FEE19760804-01.2.30&srpos=17&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- Mesa Court Bicentennial Play performed by kids https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=FEE19760707-01.2.22&srpos=21&e=——-en-20–21–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- Broomfield Bicentennial Commission plans 1975, Boccard’s ideas, Depot as vanguard of effort https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=FEE19751224-01.2.7&srpos=25&e=——-en-20–21–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- List of 4th of July activities in Broomfield, 1976 (cow chip throwing contest between mayors of Lafayette, Louisville and Broomfield) https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=TCJ19760630-01.2.2&srpos=30&e=——-en-20–21–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- Emerald Elementary celebration https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=FEE19760512-01.2.27&srpos=33&e=——-en-20–21–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- Bicentennial and International Women’s Year event https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=TCJ19750625-01.2.30&srpos=40&e=——-en-20–21–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- Photos of cow chip pitching competition https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=FEE19760707-01.2.2&srpos=52&e=——-en-20–41–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- City Council allocates $700 to save Depot for Centennial commission https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=TCJ19751126-01.2.2&e=——-en-20–41–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
- Centennial Commission report—fall events 1976 https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=TCJ19760811-01.2.5&srpos=70&e=——-en-20–61–img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-bicentennial——-0-Broomfield—–
