Colorado Springs, Colorado City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's Colorado Springs, Colorado Travel Guide has been your connection to Colorado Springs's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
Colorado Springs History
 Lieutenant Zebulon Pike and his company of soldiers circled the base of what he described as an unconquerable mountain in 1806. Unlike many towns in Colorado, who owe their development to mining or ranching, Colorado Springs' 19th century economy was based on tourism. The year was 1871, and General William Palmer established Colorado Springs as the first resort community west of Chicago on his Denver & Rio Grande Railroad at the foot of what today is called Pike's Peak. The high mountains and mineral springs of Colorado, gave the state a reputation as a health center. The town was named Colorado Springs in order to mimic the fashionable eastern resorts, which were often called 'springs', in hopes to attract wealthy easterners. The nearby mineral waters of Manitou Springs were exploited to attract visitors, and Palmer hired a resident physician to extol the benefits of the spring waters. He did so in both person and in print. When gold was found in the 1890's at Cripple Creek on the southwestern slope of Pikes Peak, Winfield Scott Stratton, the founder and developer of the mine, chose to use his newly acquired wealth to develop housing, donate land, build infrastructure, and public buildings in Colorado Springs. Spencer Penrose was another philanthropist who contributed greatly to the development of Colorado Springs. His foresight that the automobile would revolutionize the world, led to the construction of highways including Pikes Peak Highway, which has made the mountain accessible for every visitor. Penrose also financed construction of the Broadmoor Hotel, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. The United States military began its presence in Colorado Springs by building its first military base, Camp Carson. Camp Carson was built in 1942 shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the Korean War, the Ent Air Force Base opened, and in 1954, Colorado Springs was chosen from three hundred sites to be the home of the United States Air Force Academy. NORAD built its main facility in Cheyenne Mountain in 1963, permanently securing the military's presence in Colorado Springs. Although Ent Air Force Base was closed in the 1970's, it was converted into the United States Olympic Training Center. Schriever Air Force Base, located ten miles from Colorado Springs, founded in 1983, is tasked with missile defense and satellite control. Although the military is a major contributor to the Colorado Springs local economy, tourism still plays an important role, and the bed and breakfast visitor will find many exciting things to see and do during your stay. |
