Colorado California Connecticut

Colorado 

California 

Connecticut 

Let’s explore 3 more states of 

the United States of America.

I’m going alphabetically but since I live in Colorado I will explore Colorado first today. You can find the first 4 states (alphabetical) in a previous blog.

(Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas)

Colorado

Song sheet graphics, c.1904

Colorado was the 38th state to join the Union, in 1876.

It’s known as “The Mile High City” because the state capital, Denver, sits at 5,280 feet above sea level - exactly one mile. The capital’s 13th step marks the exact spot.

SimplyColor.me

The Colorado River starts here, and then travels to carve out the Grand Canyon (Arizona). Colorado is also part of the Rocky Mountains, where it gets its other slogan - “Rocky Mountain High” (thank you, John Denver). It has 58 fourteeners (mountains that are 14,000 feet high or above) and has Mount Elbert as it’s highest at 14,439 feet high.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado has many different animal wildlife. Rocky Mountain National Park is where elk have the right of way on the trails! Bighorn sheep climb almost vertical heights and are the State Animal.

Bighorn sheep

Colorado has a strong mining history, with gold, silver, uranium, molybdenum, coal and materials like sand and gravel. It has active gold mines. You can even go and try your skill at panning for gold in a stream. It’s not uncommon to leave with a little gold.

Courtesy Comstock

Colorado has some quirky laws, as most states do. You cannot sell automobiles on Sundays. In Boulder drinking and riding a horse is illegal. In Logan County it is not permitted to kiss a woman while she is sleeping. Don’t you just wonder what the history is behind these laws?

WordSearchAddict.com

Colorado is home to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Native American cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde. Outdoor sports are popular, including white water rafting, skiing, hiking, bicycling and mountain climbing.

The Royal Gorge suspension bridge (across the Royal Gorge) is one of the world’s highest at 1,053 feet from the ground. Yikes.

Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, Colorado

California

California became the 31st state of the USA in 1850. The capitol is Sacramento, although Los Angeles is the most populated city. If California became its’ own country, it would be the 5th largest economy in the world. It also would be larger than 85 of the smallest nations. And yes, it is home to Hollywood.

Hollywood Walk of Stars

Being such a large state, it has a wide range of climates and terrain. California has 840 miles of coastline. In the North there is the Redwood Forest. These trees are the tallest in the world, growing more than 350 feet tall. That’s like a 35 story building! It is also home to Death Valley, a desolate desert where the highest recorded temperature was 134 degrees Fahrenheit.

Beeloo Inc.

The state flower is the California Poppy. The state animal is the grizzly bear but unfortunately there are no wild grizzlies living there now.

Graph for the California poppy

Song sheet cover, c.1915

There are many vineyards in the state, and California produces more than 17 million gallons of wine every year. That’s a lot of grapes… Fresno is the Raisin Capital of the World. Figures.

Courtesy Jen Racine Coloring Books

The San Diego Zoo is respected worldwide. It is home to more than 12,000 animals, and 680 species.

I can’t forget to mention - DisneyLand is in California, close to Los Angeles.

Connecticut 

Seymore, Connecticut 

Connecticut became the 5th state to join the USA in 1788. Its’ capital is Hartford.  It is ranked 48th out of 50 in size. That means it’s pretty small, at just 5,544 square miles. However, it played a significant role in the Revolutionary War for independence. 

FactRetriever.com

The Hartford Courant is the oldest, still published, newspaper in America. The first issue rolled off the presses in 1764.

Song sheet cover graphics, c.1911

For being such a small state, there are several things Connecticut is known for. Perhaps the most well known is it is home to Yale University (established in 1701).  It also has splendid fall foliage drives, beaches, covered bridges and small coastal towns with fresh seafood specialities.

Craft pattern

Connecticut is known as “The Constitution State”.

Some also call it “The Nutmeg State” and residents are called ‘nutmeggers’.

Muse Printables

A favorite regional food is hot lobster rolls with butter.

Song sheet graphics, subject is New Haven, CN; c. 1910

There are about 100 days of sunshine every year (out of 365). 

First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, Connecticut 

Connecticut is also famous for Samuel Colt’s invention and manufacture of the Colt Walker pistol, 1847.

1847 Colt Walker Revolver. Only 1100 were made of this model.

Did you know in Devon, Conn. it is against the law to walk backwards on city sidewalks after sunset? And in Hartford don’t try to walk across the street on your hands - you’ll get ticketed!

Groton, Connecticut 

There is so much more to learn about these 3 states. My hope is that my blog has roused an interest in you to learn a little bit more. I am really looking forward to completing all 50 states.

Can you fill in the blanks?

Here’s a fun map:

‘Til next time,

inkspired

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Fun

 Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

What do these have in common?

Original Zentangle by inkspired

Well, no, not a Zentangle or a pumpkin!

They are alphabetically the first 4 states 

of the United States of America.

Let’s have some fun with states!

puzzles-to-print.com

All 50 states can be found in the above puzzle.

Alabama

Let’s start with Alabama. It became the 22nd state to join the USA, in 1819. It considers itself

 “The Heart of Dixie”.

Vintage song sheet cover art

Even though it is just one state, it has some distinct differences within its borders. Language and accent is one of them.

I found this to be so true when visiting from the south, then further north. Montgomery is the state capital . 

Woojr.com

During the Civil War it served as the first capital of the Confederate States of America. (To my foreign readers, the Confederate side lost the war, thus preserving the United States of America to remain as one.)

Song sheet cover, c.1919

If you visit Alabama, a famous food is their boiled peanuts. Personally, I think they taste somewhat like garbanzo beans. Those who like them, love them!

Alaska

The next state to explore is Alaska. Why?

Because I am going alphabetical, not by proximity!

Song sheet cover, c.1916

Alaska size-wise is bigger than Texas, California and Montana combined! That’s big!

It became the 49th state in 1959. It is commonly known as

‘The Last Frontier”.

Alaska is known for several things -

- the incredible nature landscapes,

- including the Northern Lights

- and glaciers.

Lake Clark National Park, Alaska

It is also known for a diversity of wildlife.

WordSearchAddict.com

If you want to get a “taste” of Alaska, try chicken with a white barbecue sauce.

Or anything with salmon…

The Alaska state capital is Juneau, although Anchorage is its most populated city.

Wildlifenomads.com

Alaska has 100,000 glaciers and 3 million lakes. (Yeah, I typed that right!)

Arizona

Arizona is the 48th state admitted to the USA, in 1912.

That’s a lot of years between the 48th and 49th.

“The Grand Canyon State”

It is perhaps most famous for the Grand Canyon, found in the north of the state. However Arizona is home to many unique and unusual landmarks and places of interest.

Phoenix is the capital, located in the south central part of the state. While many people think Arizona is just desert, it actually has high elevation mountains and the world’s largest Ponderosa Pine forest.

Song Sheet cover, c.1903

Western movie lovers will instantly recognize the gunfight at the OK Corral, but did you know that yes, it really happened, and yes, it was in Arizona!

Arizona may be the sunniest state, with 300+ days average per year of sun (out of 350 days).

Want a taste of the Southwest? Try a crispy chimichanga, originating in Arizona. My personal favorite however is an Indian Fry Bread Taco. There’s nothing else quite the same!

Education.com

I have to mention the Saguaro cactus and the Sonoran Desert. This desert extends from southeastern California to Arizona to north Mexico. Within the Sonoran there are places in Arizona with very specific weather conditions - and this is where you can find Saguaro cactus growing. It is the only place in the world where they grow natively. A Saguaro cactus may live 150-200 years, and in the first decade may only grow a few centimeters. They are fascinating!

Education.com

One more piece of trivia - Arizona is where the first McDonald’s drive through opened!

Arkansas

Arkansas became the 25th state in 1836. It’s motto is

It is a Southern state, with many typical Southern characteristics such as sweet tea. If you ask for unsweetened tea, they know you’re a tourist!

The capital is Little Rock. It is a modern city, despite all the joking about backwoods small town stuff.

Little Rock, Arkansas 

Arkansas is the only state in North America with a diamond field. The largest diamond found in North America was in the Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas, in 1924. It weighed in at a whopping 40.23 carats and is named ‘Uncle Sam’.

museprintables.com

Arkansas has rivers, lakes, mountains, bears, bald eagles, hot springs - many ‘natural’ things to check out and explore.

Song sheet cover art, c.1917

That’s it for today!

I will be continuing my exploration of states in my next few blogs.

‘Til next time,

Inkspired