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Seven Falls: then and now

About 1900 vs 2009 · Colorado Springs, CO

Seven Falls, 2009Seven Falls, About 1900
NowThen
Then, About 1900A tinted postcard of narrow white falls running down a deep canyon between dark rock walls.Photo: Unknown photographer (Library of Congress) · Public domain · Source · resized, cropped
Today, 2009A waterfall tumbling down a steep canyon wall, with green trees along the edge.Photo: John Fowler · CC BY 2.0 · Source · resized

The story

Seven Falls is a series of seven waterfalls on South Cheyenne Creek, in a 1,000-foot (300 m) granite canyon in Colorado Springs. It has been a privately owned tourist attraction since it opened in the early 1880s. The canyon entrance is about 4.5 miles southwest of downtown.

The heights of the seven falls add up to 181 feet (55 m), and a staircase of 224 steps climbs from the base to the top. An elevator goes up to the Eagle's Nest viewing platform. Wikipedia says Seven Falls is Colorado's only waterfall on the National Geographic list of international waterfalls.

Two trails start at the top of the falls. One leads to Inspiration Point, a favorite spot of the writer Helen Hunt Jackson, who was originally buried there.

Did you know? The seven falls are named in alphabetical order.
Historians argue about this. Many people assume the falls are named from top to bottom. Wikipedia says they are named in alphabetical order, not top to bottom.

Fact or tall tale?

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

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Next: Garden of the Gods. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.