During the 19th century, the same era that the Stonehocker Farmhouse was built, the world was growing. It was during this time that usable electricity, steel, and petroleum were invented, causing the second industrial revolution in 1865. During the second industrial revolution, particularly modes of transportation like railways and steamships, and modes of communication were growing. This was also the age of machine tools- what we build to create things for us. This sped up the production of consumer goods, and was cheaper since the machines were replacing human jobs, and the machines didn't get a salary.

In America, there was a different kind of growth happening. The United States was still fresh from their revolution in 1783. It was establishing itself as a power by the wars and battles fought both in its territories, with its new neighbors, battling along the Canadian and Mexican borders to establish boundaries, and with Britain as the United States fought against Britain's aggressive attitude towards the new country. It also expanded in the Louisiana purchase, the Gadsden Purchase, and the Alaska Purchase.

In 1803, much of Eastern Colorado was purchased through the Louisiana Purchase. In 1806, the famous Pikes Peak was discovered by Lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike and a small party of U.S. soldiers, whom it was named after. In 1807, James Purcell first made known that there were gold flakes that could be foundin the Colorado mountain rivers. In 1820 Major Stephen H. Long discovered Long's Peak, while the historian of the group he was with, Dr. Edwin James, made the first recorded ascent of Pike's Peak, receiving him the honor of having James Peak named after him. In 1832, Bent's Fort, one of the most important western trading posts, was built. Then in 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the United States the most of remainder of Colorado land that had not been attained in the Louisiana Purchase. Two years later, the present day boundaries of Colorado were established when Texas's claim on the last pieces of Colorado land were finally bought.  In 1858, the Gold Rush began with Green Russell's discovery of gold in some Colorado rivers. In 1861 the Congress established Colorado territory with the boundaries that exist now. In 1864 was the devastating Sandcreek Massacre, where many peaceful Native Americans were murdered, stirring fresh violence with the other inhabitants of Colorado. In 1869 the final military engagement between the Native Americans and the United States people was engaged. In 1876 Colorado was admitted into the United States union as the 38th state (exactly 100 years after the United States became it's own country). In 1878 the first telephones were established in Denver. In 1894, the Capitol building was completed, and Colorado became the second state to have women suffrage (preceeded only by Wyoming).