University of DenverPremieres February 27th at 7pm

Founded in 1864 by Colorado Territorial Governor John Evans, the University of Denver is the oldest institute of higher

education in Colorado. From Rufus “Potato” Clark and Henry Augustus Buchtel to Woodstock West and the 2012 Presidential Debate on campus, discover the many colorful characters and milestones that have contributed to the university’s 150 year legacy.

U.S. Air Force AcademyPremieres April 3 at 7pm

Uncover the secrets of the United States Air Force Academy with a look at the significant events, landmarks

and accomplishments over the last 60 years. Established in 1954, the Jewel of the Rockies was charged with producing “lieutenants for our Air Force and Leaders for our Nation.” Discover the unique architecture of the campus; celebrate the athleticism and academic dedication of its students; and relive the Academy’s struggles and successes during this Colorado Experience retrospective.

The Manassa MaulerPremieres October 2 at 7pm

Before he was the World Heavyweight Champion and a cultural icon of 1920s, William Harrison Dempsey

spent his youth as a miner, cowboy, and farmhand in the Rocky Mountain Region. A native of Manassa, Colorado, Dempsey was born to poor Mormon parents who travelled throughout Colorado and Utah looking for work wherever they could find it. Robust and powerful, Dempsey demonstrated a talent for fighting, and, with the guidance of his brother, Bernie, he embarked on a career as a professional boxer, first as “Kid Blackie”, and, later, “Jack” Dempsey. Colorado Experience spotlights the early roots of one of the state’s most renowned native sons, Jack Dempsey, the Manassa Mauler.

The Dust BowlPremieres October 9 at 7pm

The Dust Bowl was a dark and dreary time for many Coloradans. Between 1862 and 1934, the federal government granted 1.6

million homesteads to Americans under the Homesteading Act of 1862 and 1909’s Enlarged Homestead Act. With promises of a tree-filled oasis, families who moved west hoped to reap the benefits of the farming boom. Their luck changed as they found themselves in the middle of one of the largest environmental disasters to hit the plains.

Colorado’s Cold WarPremieres October 16 at 7pm

In 1951, in the early days of

the Cold War, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission announced the construction of a new

facility in Arvada, Colorado, 16 miles from Metro Denver. Although the general public was largely unaware of what went on at the site, the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant manufactured the plutonium “trigger” used in every nuclear weapon created in the United States. For the next several decades, Rocky Flats was a major stimulus to the local economy, providing thousands of jobs to area residents. But it was also a source of increasing controversy, as reports of radioactive contamination affecting the local environment and the truth about what was really going on at Rocky Flats became public. Colorado’s Cold War explores the legacy of Rocky Flats and the local impact of a global conflict.

Pope John Paul IIPremieres October 23 at 7pm

750,000 participants from 72 countries convened in Denver in the summer of 1993 for World Youth Day and a visit from

the Pope. Organizers feared the gang disturbances of the notorious “Summer of Violence” would scare away visitors, and yet for those 5 and half days, all violence ceased. This episode of Colorado Experience examines

Season 2

the largest gathering in Colorado history. Archival photographs, footage and modern-day interviews track the historic visit of Pope John Paul II, the Catholic Church’s revered leader.

Living West: WaterPremieres October 30 at 7pm

What happened to the Ancient Puebloans of Mesa Verde and Goodman Point? After settling in Southwest Colorado for

over 700 years, they suddenly left their cliff dwellings and spring side kivas, leaving behind a variety of archeological treasures. Historians and archaeologists discuss the possibility that this drastic move was caused by a devastating drought in the Southwest region. Discover the similarities in conditions and what the disappearance of water might mean for our state today.

NORADPremieres November 13 at 7pm

Cheyenne Mountain, located south of Colorado Springs, served as the command center for the North American

Aerospace Defense Command Center (NORAD) from 1966-2008. The bi-nation defense organization, currently stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, continually adapts to modern-day challenges, while simultaneously protecting the citizens of the United States and Canada. Colorado Experience goes inside this top-secret headquarters for a view few have ever had.

The Smaldones: Family of CrimePremieres November 20 at 7pm

Colorado Experience examines one of the lesser-known chapters in American organized

crime: the story of the Smaldones, an Italian-American crime family that operated out of Denver. Brothers Clyde and Eugene Smaldone took control of Denver’s underworld in 1933, after then-crime boss Joe Roma’s body was found riddled with bullets in his home. They specialized in bootlegging during the years of prohibition and, later, bookmaking and gambling. To some, they were family men who provided food to poor members of their community; to others, they were ruthless criminals. Utilizing audio interviews with Clyde Smaldone himself, Colorado Experience sheds lights on the man who led Denver’s infamous organized crime syndicate.

Sand Creek MassacrePremieres November 27 at 7pm

What would lead approximately 675 volunteer soldiers to attack a peaceful settlement of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians

in Southeastern Colorado Territory? On November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington led a group to do just that, resulting in the deaths of over one hundred and fifty men, women and children. This episode revisits the horrific events and uncovers the history 150 years later.

Justicia y LibertadPremieres December 18 at 7pm

1968 was a pivotal year in American history: the Vietnam War hit its peak, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated

and riots shook the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. At home in Colorado, this year marked the birth of the Chicano Movement, a struggle for identity, equality, and education. Discover how the movement’s leaders remain empowered by this dynamic chapter, four and a half decades later.

Jewish PioneersPremieres January 8 at 7pm

Southwest Colorado may still be a vast maze of dirt roads and windy passes without the innovative thinking of Otto

Mears, the “Pathfinder of the San Juans.” From the philanthropists behind National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, to Leadville’s thriving mining community, this episode discovers the significant achievements and history-making advancements by Colorado’s Jewish population.

Hydro PowerPremieres January 15 at 7pm

In 1891, due to a lack of timber fuel and the challenge of steep mountain passes, all mining operations in Telluride were in

danger of being shut down. Cue L.L. Nunn. This Colorado pioneer financed Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant, the first in the world to generate alternating current electric power for industrial application. Thanks to this historic milestone, Telluride’s Gold King Mine remained open and hydroelectric plants soon popped up across the United States and the world.