Grand Opening! Colorado Springs (take 2)

By Tiffany Amber Stockton

Last month, I have no idea how it happened, but the main blog content from January got posted with my February blog instead of the content I prepared. My sincere apologies for that. What should have been an introductory post about the history of Colorado Springs ended up being a repeat of entrepreneurs founding America. If you missed that post in January, you can read it again here (winks): https://www.hhhistory.com/2020/02/grand-opening-colorado-springs.html.

Now, let's get on with what *should* have been posted last month.

My very first book series highlighted pioneers in America and their refusal to give up, no matter the circumstances. The same can be said of anyone establishing a new town or city. Since I have been living in Colorado Springs for more than a decade, I've been itching to explore the rich history right here. So, here we go!

COLORADO SPRINGS: GRAND OPENING

The 14,115 foot mountain called Pike's Peak has long been the focal point of everyone who lives in what is now the Colorado Springs area. The oral tradition of the Ute people call it Tava – or "Sun Mountain" – for the way it collects and reflects the morning's rays. The Spanish, who settled in northern New Mexico and explored the area beginning in the 16th century, called it "Almagre" for its vibrant red coloring.

The first American official to encounter the mountain was Zebulon Montgomery Pike, a young army lieutenant, who was dispatched to survey the southwestern boundary of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory -- thanks to Lewis and Clark. When he first saw the mountain looming in the distance, Pike named it Grand Peak. Deep snow prevented him from reaching the summit on his first attempt, but in 1810, he published the account of his expedition and literally "put the mountain on the map." As a result, his name is forever attached to the peak.

The discovery of gold spurred the first permanent settlement in the region. In 1859, Colorado City was established at the lower end of the Ute Pass trail. The rugged and wild supply camps sold goods and equipment to eager miners on their way west. Old Colorado City is still a distinctive community on the west side of Colorado Springs. It is an historic district with its own personality, quirky shops, and unique restaurants. It survives as a living legacy of the region's frontier spirit, and every year that legacy is celebrated with the annual Territory Days during Memorial Day weekend.

The Colorado Springs that exists today sprang from the imagination of General William Jackson Palmer, a Civil War hero and railroad magnate. He established Colorado Springs on July 31, 1871. Palmer had a distinct plan right from the start, to use the area’s enticing scenery, nearby mineral springs, and other amenities to attract residents to a "resort" town. He laid out the broad streets, hauled in 10,000 trees to make the city green and lush, and built lavish, European-style buildings.

Unlike a lot of other "boom" towns that happened due to miners seeking gold, Colorado Springs actually attracted wealthy residents, capitalists, intellectuals, artists, writers, and inventors right from the start. It served as a destination for tens of thousands of health seekers hoping the community's abundant sunshine and fresh air would cure tuberculosis. After the 1891 discovery of gold in Cripple Creek, just to the west of Pikes Peak, even more wealth came to Colorado Springs. For a time, the city had more millionaires per capita than any other place in the U.S.

Today, entrepreneurs and visionaries are still adding intricate layers to the economy here. Colorado Springs is at the same time an art colony, college town, military installation, destination for the high-tech industry, and home to the U.S. Olympic Committee headquarters. Yet, at the heart of it all, you can still find remnants of Palmer's healthful, attractive, community with an extensive park system, trails galore, red sandstone spires, and that ever-present feature mountain.

As Matt Mayberry (Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum, 2008) wrote: "The Pikes Peak region is a cultural and geographic confluence. It's where the mountains meet the plains, where the Southwest joins the heartland, where ancient cultures converge with 21st century society, and where the past informs the future. For some, it's stirring enough to inspire poetry."

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* What might be a reason YOU would have traveled west to uncharted territory?

* If you had been one of the first people to discover the natural hot springs in this region, what would you have done?

* Have you ever visited Colorado Springs or anywhere in Colorado? Where and when?

* What did you like the most about today's post? What topics would you like to see covered in future posts?

Leave answers to these questions or any comments you have on the post below. Come back on the 9th of April (my son's birthday) for my next appearance.

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BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those childhood skills to become an award-winning and best-selling author and speaker who is also an advocate for literacy as an educational consultant with Usborne Books. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help better their lives.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children and two dogs in Colorado. She has sold twenty (21) books so far and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

Glen Eyrie: the Castle in Colorado Springs + Book Giveaway!

By Tiffany Amber Stockton

When I first moved to Colorado Springs, my excitement grew at the thought of finally having the opportunity to do on-site research and start planning for books set in  historical Colorado. The state itself has always fascinated me. Imagine my surprise, though, when I encountered a man named General William Jackson Palmer (founder of Colorado Springs and owner of the Denver-Rio Grande Railroad) who is famous here in Colorado but was actually born in Delaware -- the same state where I lived for nearly 30 years!

Looks like I'm not the only one to move from Delaware and find a home in Colorado. :) Not only did General Palmer find a home here in Colorado, but he built a CASTLE! That's right. The saying goes, "a man's home is his castle," and Palmer took that literally.

Glen Eyrie is an English Tudor-style castle. There are 17 guest rooms in the castle, as well as 4 meeting rooms and 2 dining rooms. This house was his dream home and is near Colorado Springs in the northwest foothills north of the Garden of the Gods rock formations. After building a large carriage house, where the family lived for a time, Palmer and his wife Mary (Queen) Mellen built a 22-room frame house on the 800-acre estate. This house was remodeled in 1881 to include a tower and additional rooms, and made to resemble a stone castle, reminiscent of those native to England.

In 1880, Mrs. Palmer suffered a mild heart attack and was advised to move to a lower altitude. She and the girls moved to the East Coast and then to England where General Palmer visited them as often as he could. Queen died on December 28, 1894, at the age of 44. In sorrow, General Palmer went to England to return Mrs. Palmer's remains and the girls to Colorado Springs. The Palmers had three daughters: Elsie, Dorothy, and Marjory.

Glen Eyrie Today

The castle was advanced for its time, featuring a primitive intercom system, and a chimney system that would hold the smoke until the wind was blowing in the right direction to take the smoke out of the valley. Glen Eyrie is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The castle is now owned by The Navigators. The general public is allowed on its grounds Monday through Thursday to visit its bookstore, located at the Carriage House. Tours of Glen Eyrie Castle are available to the public and require an advance reservation.

Events hosted at the castle include English and Victorian teas throughout the week and Christmas Madrigal Banquets beginning after Thanksgiving.

Glen Eyrie is also a conference and retreat center that hosts many conferences and programs. The property in the enclosed valley is also available for use by groups for meetings, receptions, and retreats. Herds of bighorn sheep, deer and wild turkey may often be found grazing on the grounds.

Now it's YOUR turn:

• Have you ever visited a castle of any kind, anywhere in the world? Where was it?
• What does *your* dream home look like? What amenities are a must-have?

Leave a comment below answering either one of the 2 questions or talking about the new release featured here for your chance at a FREE autographed copy of Brandywine Brides. Winner will be chosen on February 11th.


*** NEW RELEASE ***

February marks the release of my 15th title, Brandywine Brides. This is a 3-book compilation of my series set in historic Delaware during the Gilded Age. The stories connect the family from my very first series to the family featured in this one.

Nestled amid the beauty of historical Delaware, three generations of bookstore owners find love grows out of a shared love for great literature. Charlotte Pringle is pressured by her parents to marry advantageously, but while Richard Baxton loves her, he cannot provide for her because all his finances go to help his niece walk again. Grace Baxton is on the search for a missing heirloom book. Andrew Bradenton offers to help her, but his past mistakes cast him in a suspicious light, even while a dashing suitor catches Grace’s eye. After the loss of his friend and her brother on the Titanic, Aaron Stone encourages Lillian Bradenton to restore her hope by bringing a boarded-up bookstore back to life. Will each woman’s literature-inspired dreams lead her to the right man of faith and devotion?

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BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those childhood skills to become an award-winning author and speaker who has partnered with Nerium International in the anti-aging skin care industry, helping others look younger and live better.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have one girl and one boy, a Retriever mix named Roxie and and Australian cattle dog named Timber. She has sold seventeen (17) books so far and is represented by agent Sandra Bishop of the TransAtlantic Agency. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.