Growth, Opportunity and a Widening World

The Progressive Era brought growth and expansion to CU Boulder. Enrollment climbed, new disciplines emerged, and the campus welcomed its first international students. CU Boulder’s earliest intercollegiate sports grew from the start of football, and student organizations flourished, reflecting a spirit of civic engagement and cultural exchange. Boulder evolved alongside the university, transitioning from a frontier town to a vibrant community. Also during this time, an extension of CU was established in Denver, marking the early days of what eventually grew into the University of Colorado Denver. Missing from many accounts of this era of CU Boulder’s story are the voices of women, students of color, and the workers whose daily efforts sustained campus life.