Amy's Rear View Mirror

Monument, CO

July 7-10 2005

As I was on I-80 nearing Laramie WY, I decided to head for the Denver area (it's only about 2 hours from Laramie) so I took I-25 south. I stopped in Loveland at the same campground I stayed at several times last summer. It's the closest campground to my brother's house in Boulder.

After getting the RV setup at the site, I drove to Boulder to meet my brother and family for supper and visiting.  But first I had to make a slight detour ... just one block off the route to my brother's house ... to see Lynn Burnette. Lynn is a wonderful Lakota artist and I've been wanting one of his prints for quite some time. I gave him a call and stopped by ... I got a new addition for the walls, now it just needs matting and framing.

When I left Loveland CO I continued south on I-25 to Monument CO arriving at the campground around noon. There's lots of sightseeing from the Monument area.

In 1859 two surveyors from Denver City were beginning a townsite to be called Colorado City. While choosing their location, they found an area of sandstone formations. The story goes ... one of the men suggested that it would be a "capital place for a beer garden" when the country grew up. His companion exclaimed, "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods."

Charles Elliott Perkins, the head of the Burlington Railroad, establish a home in the Garden of the Gods. He origianlly purchased 240 acres in 1879 which he built a house on, and later added to the property but never built on it. He preferred to leave the land in its natural state for the enjoyment of the public. Perkins died in 1907 before he made arrangements for the land to become a public park, although it had been open to the public for years. In 1909, Perkins' children gave his four-hundred eighty acres to the City of Colorado Springs. This city-owned park is now a National Natural Landmark recognized by the Department of the Interior as "a nationally-significant natural area."

Manitou Cliff Dwellings is preserved under a protective red sandstone overhang ... authentic Anasazi cliff dwellings built more than 700 years ago. Unlike other cliff dwellings remaining in the west, you are free to touch and even go inside these.  

During the summer months, Native American Indians demonstrate their culture through traditional dances handed down from generation to generation. Their performances first started in 1906. Members of the Tafoya family have been performing here since 1916 keeping ancient traditions alive with their drumming, singing and dancing.

The Tafoyas explain that some of their dances, like the hoop and eagle dances, originated with their cliff dwelling ancestors. In the Anasazi culture, dances were important for more than just their deep symbolic meanings and ritual purposes. The Ancient Ones had to be agile and maintain their balance on narrow cliff ledges or risk injury or death from a fall. Dancing helped Anasazi youngsters build strength and coordination.

The Tafoyas have toured the US on the powwow circuit as performers and contestants, and have participated in many special engagements. They also traveled with organizations like the U.S. Department of State and the modern version of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show visiting places like Portugal, Spain, Luxembourg, Sweden, Holland, England, Ireland, Scotland, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia and Indonesia.

Located in South Cheyenne Cañon, Seven Falls cascades 181 feet in seven distinct waterfalls down a cliff of pikes peak granite.

In 1872 Nathaniel Colby homesteaded the 160 acres that include Seven Falls and South Cheyenne Cañon. Colby must not have anticipate the potential value of his purchase, because nine months later he sold  the patent to the Colorado springs Land company for $1000. 10 years`later in 1882 James Hull purchased the property for $1300. Mr. Hull, being a naturalist,  was disturbed that the beauty of the canyon was being threatened by felling the trees for their lumber value. Hull later bought an additional 80 acres in 1885. Hull became one of Colorado's earliest environmental protectors.

Hull was also a businessman  and realized the value of the land. He advertised the property as a scenic resort, built a road through to the Seven Falls and a stairway along the side of the Falls. He installed a toll gate at the foot of the cañon and proceeded to charge a fee. Access to the Falls in those days was by carriages, burros and saddle horses furnished by a local entrepreneur named Hunter who paid James Hull and his sons $500 for the privilege of taking passengers to the Falls for 25 cents each. Seven Falls became a tourist attraction.

Seven Falls is located in a natural box canyon. It is the only waterfall in Colorado listed in the National Geographic list of International waterfalls.  

I left Monument CO by going south on I-25 to Colorado Springs CO where I took US-24 to I-70 in Limon CO. I continued on I-70 east to Salina KS where I took I-135 south to I-35 south. I stopped in Oklahoma City OK to visit a friend and do some sightseeing.

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