Garden of the Gods: then and now

About 1900 vs 2014 · Colorado Springs, CO

NowThen

Then, About 1900A tinted postcard of tall red rock spires in a row, with a green mountain behind them.Photo: Unknown author · Public domain · Source · resized

Today, 2014Tall red sandstone towers leaning together beside a dirt path, under a blue sky.Photo: BenjaminASanders · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source · resized

The story

Garden of the Gods is a 1,341.3-acre (542.8 ha) public park in Colorado Springs. About 862 acres of it were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Its red rock formations were created millions of years ago during the Laramide Orogeny.

The Europeans first called the area Red Rock Corral. Wikipedia says that in August 1859 two surveyors, Melancthon Beach and Rufus Cable, explored the site. Beach thought it was a capital place for a beer garden. Cable said it was a fit place for the gods to assemble, and the name stuck.

Archaeological evidence shows that prehistoric people visited about 1330 BC, and many native peoples report a connection to the place, including the Apache, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, Lakota, Pawnee, Shoshone and Ute.

Did you know? The park has been used by people for over 3,000 years.

Historians argue about this. Many people repeat one story of how the park got its name. Wikipedia says an 1893 newspaper credited Helen Hunt Jackson instead, so the story is disputed.

Fact or tall tale?

SolidThe name 'Garden of the Gods' was suggested in 1859 by surveyor Rufus Cable.
Wikipedia gives that account of the naming.
Not trueThe red rocks were created in the last century.
Wikipedia says they formed millions of years ago.

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

Stamp it in person

Go there, answer the question that only someone standing at Garden of the Gods can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.

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More in Colorado Springs

Next: Pikes Peak. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.