In honor of Colorado Springs’ sesquicentennial anniversary, the CSPM unveiled a new exhibit, COS@150. This robust exploration of our community’s history and culture features 150 objects, illuminates 150 stories, commemorates 150 years. Throughout the commemoration, guests were invited to explore these stories through a series of regional history lectures.
The Myth vs. Reality of the AdAmAn Club | Presented by Don Sanborn
In a 100 year span, it’s easy for events to be misremembered or more likely, in the case of the AdAmAn Club, embellished. Past President Don Sanborn, second female member Cindy Bowles and associate member Don Kallaus will review the myths and realities of the AdAmAn club. We will explore the myth of how the club was started vs the reality unearthed through research and with the help of the Pioneers Museum. We’ll also share a number of real or imagined stories from the verbal history of the club. Cindy will share the good, the bad and the ugly of climbing with a large group of men each year. We’ll wrap things up with a look to the future which will include the third summit house for the Club and plans for the 100th AdAmAn Centennial celebration.
History of Colorado SpringsThrough Quilts | Presented by Caitlin Sharpe
History of Colorado Springs Through Quilts uses quilts from the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum’s collection to discuss people, groups, events, and places that help tell the story of the Pikes Peak Region.
COS@150 Through the Lens of Black History | Presented by Hillary Mannion
Colorado Springs history is Black history. Black history is Colorado Springs history. Discover a selection of stories of from the Museum’s new COS@150 exhibit exploring the people, places and events in Black history that helped shape Colorado Springs.
Exploring Our Urban Forest | Presented by Dennis Will
When General William Jackson Palmer founded our city in 1871, it was situated on a nearly treeless, shortgrass prairie. Under Palmer’s supervision, the Colorado Springs Company planted thousands of trees to make the city green and inviting. Today, the city has been recognized as a “Tree City, USA” for 44 straight years by the Arbor Day Foundation. Join us as we examine this fascinating history, discuss new forestry initiatives, and examine the future of our urban forest. We will also explore the science of “Tree Ring Research” being conducted at UCCS that focuses on human-environment interactions and the stories trees can tell.
Peak of Racing – Behind the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb | Presented by Chris Lennon
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to race up Pikes Peak at breakneck speeds? Join Pikes Peak International Hill Climb champ Chris Lennon as he covers the last 100 years of this world-famous race’s history, and gives you the next best thing to being in an actual race car, heading to the summit!
Sense of Place in Colorado Springs | Presented by John Harner
In his book Profiting From the Peak: Landscape and Liberty in Colorado Springs, Harner charts the historical geography of Colorado Springs through ten thematic chapters, then summarizes the important dimensions of the city to answer the question, “What shapes Colorado Springs’ place identity?” This lecture highlights the major points and conclusions to distill the characteristics of place that define the city.
Quenching Our Thirst – Population Growth and Water System Development | Presented by Casey Pearce
What do City of Colorado Springs Records reveal about population growth and water system development? Join Casey Pearce, Records Systems Administrator for the City of Colorado Springs, and Eric Perramond, Colorado College Departments of Environmental Studies & Southwest Studies, to explore this question. Pearce will take a fascinating look at the expansion of Colorado Springs and its water supply and delivery system through historic records and Perramond will add some regional and western U.S. perspective on water issues, challenges, and the future of water in our region.
Katharine Lee Bates’ Vision of Colorado, America, and Womanhood | Presented by Katherine Scott Sturdevant
In this sesquicentennial of Colorado Springs, one’s thoughts reach out to Wellesley English Professor Katharine Lee Bates who visited here in 1893. When she adventurously rode to the top of Pike’s Peak, the stimulating experience and inspirational view led her, the next day, to pen the first verses of “America the Beautiful” from her Colorado Springs hotel room. Bates’s life and career, less known to us, is also inspirational. She achieved recognition and respect in her field partly by traveling to better understand (and publish about) literary figures and settings, just as our setting inspired her hymn. Meanwhile, however, she had to guard her career from presumptions that women had neither needs nor rights to combine careers with personal relationships or other distractions. Come enjoy the fascinating life of this woman who gave us a beautiful hymn based on our tallest vista!