Coloradans Asked To Help Design State's 150th Anniversary License Plate In Historic Colorado Contest

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles is looking for creative Coloradans. Centennial State residents have an opportunity to design the license plate that will honor the state's 150th anniversary. The Colorado DMV recently launched the Historic Colorado Contest, a license plate design contest aimed at creating the commemorative license plate.

In the press release from the Colorado DMV, Gov. Jared Polis said, “This is a great kickoff to create an exciting way to celebrate 150 years of Colorado history and showcase Colorado’s talented artists. As we gear up for Colorado’s sesquicentennial in 2026 we are planning many more ways to celebrate our state. In Colorado, creativity and inspiration are all around us, and we are excited to see the great designs Coloradans share. This new license plate honors the legacy of Coloradans who helped shape our great state as we look forward towards a bright future together.”

The Historic Colorado Contest, also known as the Great License Plate Design Contest, began accepting submissions on Monday, Sept. 19 and will continue through Wednesday, Nov. 30. The design contest is open to anyone who lives or studies in Colorado. The contest will have two divisions:

• Under 13
• 13 and older

Up to 10 finalists per division will be selected by a committee with a final, public vote on the top three designs. The winners will get huge bragging rights, as the DMV will feature the artists in all media releases and the winners will each receive a special commemorative license plate and a $1,000 grant.

Entries will be judged on how well the artwork captures Colorado and its history, the artistic quality and its originality, and how well that design translates into becoming a Colorado license plate.

DMV Senior Director Electra Bustle said, “Coloradans are proud of the state we call home. Our state has a rich history and we want to honor the legacy of those Coloradans who laid the foundation for our success, and with the Historic Colorado Contest, we will.”

For the design contest, it is free to enter and each participant can submit up to three entries, each of which need to be the participant’s original artwork. Coloradans interested in participating in the Historic Colorado Contest can visit the Colorado DMV website for complete information, terms and conditions, and templates for drafting submissions. 

Coloradans should email their designs and entry form to dor_HistoricColorado@state.co.us. The Historic Colorado Contest is a low-cost effort to honor Colorado’s history and 150th anniversary with a commemorative license plate. Voting for the winning designs is anticipated to begin in early 2023.  

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