Among the many official state symbols, Colorado’s state bird is especially unique. The reason is that only a very few Coloradans have even seen a Lark Bunting, which is our designated state bird. The choice of this striking-looking sparrow came as a result of a hot debate at the State House back in 1931. Some crusaders advocated for the Meadowlark and others for the Mountain Bluebird. The Lark Bunting faction was led by Mr. Roy Langdon of Fort Collins, who enlisted Colorado school children in the campaign and packed the Capitol viewing gallery with seniors from Fort Collins High School on behalf of his feathered friend. A major plank in Langdon’s platform was that his nominee represented the state’s Eastern Plains and its farming culture, noting that the state’s mountain environment was overrepresented in state symbols.

In April of 1931, the black bird with a white swoosh officially joined other state symbols such as the official tree (Blue Spruce), animal (Big Horn Sheep), fish (Greenback Cutthroat Trout) and even a state amphibian (the Western Tiger Salamander). An intriguing Lark Bunting behavior occurs during the mating season when the male soars 50 feet into the air and then spirals down in a dramatic courtship show.

Have you seen Lark Bunting (neither a lark nor a bunting but a species of sparrow)? It isn’t likely since their habitat is concentrated near Colorado’s eastern border. The best place to see any of the elusive avians is Pawnee National Grasslands in northeast Colorado. Some have been reported at Barr Lake State Park, which is not too far from Superior.

Wow, what an active few weeks it has been for the Historical Commission! We have been busy carrying out our mission of preserving the history of our town and surrounding area.

Here is what we have been doing lately:

• April 29: Hosted the annual Spring Educational Program featuring a panel of long-time area residents. Nearly 40 people attended that evening and soaked up the stories of living here “back in the day.”
• May 2: Hosted visitors to the Grasso Park Interim Museum and Asti Park Historical Museum. Also led nearly 60 people on the Annual Historic Walk to the Industrial Coal Mine and Mine Camp site. It was a beautiful day for a walk in the expansive Boulder County Open Space.
• May 18: The Town of Superior and the Superior Historical Commission were recognized by the Boulder Heritage Roundtable for their role in rebuilding the Asti Park Historical Museum after the Marshall Fire.

Upcoming Historic Opportunities

Join the Historical Commission to learn more about Superior History! Docents will be available at all three locations.

June 6: Open Museums & Cemetery

• Asti Park Historical Museum (112 W. Maple St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Grasso Park Interim Museum (122 E. William St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Superior Cemetery (2580 Central Park Way) 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (weather permitting)

July 4: 4th of July Celebration

The Historical Commission will have a booth at the 4th of July Celebration in Community Park and will feature the Town’s 84-year-old fire truck on display near the booth.

The Arts and History division of Parks, Recreation & Open Space will have a booth right next door to the Historical Commission and will be hosting an America 250 exhibit titled The Moments That Made Us. The exhibit was developed through a multi-state collaboration and created by History Colorado.