To give credit to states that have contributed the most to Americaís innovative success, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 22 key metrics. The data set ranges from share of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professionals to R&D spending per capita.Colorado came in óNo. 6 ó share of STEM professionalsNo. 6 ó STEM job demand by 2020No. 1 ó eighth-grade math and science performanceNo. 9 ó share of science and engineering graduates age 25 plusNo. 4 ó share of technology companiesNo. 18 ó R&D spending per capitaNo. 7 ó Venture-capital funding per capitaFor the full report, please visit:https://wallethub.com/edu/most-innovative-states/31890/Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument near Cripple Creek is a lesson in history set in the one-time shadow of the Guffey Volcano. The volcano erupted millions of years ago, creating fossils and leaving the valley filled with petrified trees.Built in 1867 by Seth Lake, the Astor House in Golden was the first stone hotel built west of the Mississippi River.
