The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. It's a 64-mile day trip that you will thoroughly enjoy and never forget. The narrow-gauge heritage railroad operates  between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. It crosses the borders of Colorado and New Mexico 11 times as it chugs its way up and over the 10,015′ high Cumbres Pass.

The Cumbres & Toltec goes where no automobile can go. Most of the route is through “off-the-grid” wilderness, so you’ll experience views into canyons and over ridges that can’t be seen in any other way.

The train travels at a top speed of 12 miles an hour, and that’s the beauty of it!
You won’t miss the aspen groves, the wildflowers, the steep mountain canyons, or the plentiful wildlife.

The steam engine is coal fired and carries you through steep mountain canyons, high desert, and lush meadows as you zig zag between the Colorado and New Mexico borders. There is, indeed, spectacular and rare Western scenery which can only be viewed from the train's unique route.

The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad has steamed through history and across the Rocky Mountains since 1880, when first tracks were laid across Cumbres Pass. This unique experience will take you back in time and off of the grid so you can experience the sounds, steam and steel of bygone years. Your daily grind can’t follow you into the great, unspoiled West.

Originally part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's narrow-gauge network, the line has been jointly owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico since 1970.

In 1988, a nonprofit organization called the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was established to preserve the history of the railroad and help maintain infrastructure and rolling stock. The Friends of the C&TSRR also participates in various education programs and provides the railroad guides, known as docents, who inform passengers about historical aspects of the railroad as well as locations of interest.
(Image Courtesy of Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad)

A recent honor:
USA Today - "Best Train Ride in America”
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad ranks among the most authentic steam-operated railroads still in existence. Passengers aboard this National Historic Landmark travel along a track laid in 1880 between Chama, N.M. and Antonito, Colo. Source...

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You have a choice of days as well as the type of music you prefer. The music genres are varied throughout the summer:  jazz, blues, rock, R&B, Motown, oldies, bluegrass, reggae, Americana, Dixieland, pop, Latin, country and more!
All you need is a blanket or chair as well as some yummy snacks. The difficult part is deciding which concerts to attend!
 
FIRST & MAIN SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
5-7 p.m. Fridays (June & July)
First and Main Town Center, 3650 New Center Point, 955-6060, firstandmaintowncenter.com
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PIKES PEAK JAZZ AND SWING SOCIETY’S ~ JAZZ IN THE PARKS
6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, ppjass.org
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Manitou Springs Live Music
For concerts in Manitou Springs – Click Here
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HILLSIDE GARDENS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
6:00-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Hillside Gardens, 1006 S. Institute, $10, includes ticket for one nonalcoholic beverage, beer or wine, 520-9463, hillsidegardensandevents.com
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BANNING LEWIS RANCH SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
6-8 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays
Banning Lewis Ranch, 6885 Vista del Pico Blvd., 522-2432, banninglewisranch.com
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JAZZ IN THE GARDEN AT GRACE AND ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
7 p.m. Fridays
601 N. Tejon St., 328-1125, gssepiscopal.org
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MUSIC ON THE LABYRINTH
6:30 p.m. Saturdays
First Christian Church, 16 E. Platte Ave., firstchristiancos.org
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WOODLAND MUSIC SERIES
Indoors at Ute Pass Cultural Center or outdoors at the Woodland Pavilion, 210 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park, 687-5284, woodlandmusicseries.org
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PAINT THE TOWN BLUE SERIES
5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays
Thorndale Park, 2310 W. Uintah St., pikespeakblues.org
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MUSICAL MONDAYS IN MONUMENT VALLEY PARK
7 p.m. Mondays
Monument Valley Park, on lawn west of Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 170 W. Cache la Poudre St.
Concert Schedule
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SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE GLEN
6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays ~ July & August
The Glen at Broadmoor Community Church, 315 Lake Ave., broadmoorchurch.org
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Opened to the public in 2012, the National Museum of World War II Aviation documents the role that military aviation played in the emergence of our nation as a world power. The museum tells the story of the tremendous technological advancements in aviation during the War and the contributions and sacrifices of the men and who won the air war.

For more information, visit their website: National Museum of World War II Aviation

The Pauline Chapel is a beautiful chapel on the National Register of Historic Places. It is owned by The Broadmoor Resort.

In 1918, Spencer Penrose submitted two designs for the chapel on behalf of his wife Julie, a devout Catholic, to the Bishop of the Diocese of Denver. The first was a sketch by Broadmoor hotel architects Warren & Wetmore. Later that year, an additional design, in a Spanish Mission style, was sent from Thomas MacLaren & Douglas Hetherington Architects of Colorado Springs. The second rendering was chosen and construction was completed in the spring of 1919. However, Pauline Chapel was not dedicated as a Catholic church until 1925 when St. Paul's Catholic Parish of Colorado Springs was established.

Another resource on the history of the chapel is as follows: "While the Broadmoor Hotel was being built under Spencer Penrose’s watchful eye, his wife was supervising the building of a small chapel across the lake. Her vision for the chapel was Italian Renaissance and the design for the chapel was based on a 14th century model in the Vatican. A Scotsman, Thomas MacLaren, was the chosen architect. He saw art as architecture, and had his hand in many well-known buildings around Colorado Springs. Pauline Chapel was not originally planned as a parish church. Built in 1918, it was a “rest” chapel for the use of hotel guests."

During their travels through Europe in the early 1900's, Mr. and Mrs. Penrose acquired many examples of religious art and artifacts that spoke to the rich history and tradition of the early church. Today, The Pauline Chapel is a popular choice for wedding ceremonies, and is also open to hotel guests and community each Sunday at 9:00am.

New windows were installed after World War II and The Rose Window in the choir loft was added, depicting the Blessed Mother’s crowing as Queen of Heaven. The last of Julie’s projects was a gift of a pipe organ and chimes to the chapel. The installation was completed in 1955. Julie Penrose passed away in 1956. The new St. Paul’s Church opened in 1959. Source...

 
Ever wondered what Cheyenne Mountain is all about?  Where did it gets its name? What’s its history? What do you know about Cheyenne Mountain? What are those towers on top?  Is NORAD still in Cheyenne Mountain?

Just some of the answers to the questions above:

Where did Cheyenne Mountain get its name?

Named for the Cheyenne people. Native Americans found that Cheyenne Mtn was a good wood source for teepee poles. It was also visited by the Arapaho people. They sought spiritual inspiration from the mountain’s waterfalls.  The Mountain was also used by the Ute Tribe to safely cross from the plains and benefit from its steep slopes and hidden valleys.

Its history – what do you know about Cheyenne Mountain?

Cheyenne Mountain is a triple-peaked mountain. The mountain serves as host for military, communications, recreational, and residential purposes. It was designed to withstand bombing and the fallout from a nuclear attack.
The underground operations center for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was built in the 1960s during the Cold War to monitor the potential intrusion to North American airspace Soviet missile launches and military aircraft.

Homesteading activity began in 1867. The mountain was the site of resorts and retreats beginning in the 1880s. Spencer Penrose, who built and widely promoted The Broadmoor in 1918, bought several properties on the mountain.  

Penrose built the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Highway, Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, a lodge on one of the mountain peaks, and a retreat at Emerald Valley.

The site of the lodge recently became the wilderness Cloud Camp. Emerald Valley is now the site of The Broadmoor’s Ranch at Emerald Valley. Land on The Mountain once owned by The Broadmoor is now the site of numerous luxury homes.

The two parks on and at the base of Cheyenne Mountain are Cheyenne Mountain State Park and North Cheyenne Cañon Park.

What are those towers on top?

You cannot miss the noticeable tower feature on the top of one of Cheyenne Mountain’s peaks.  Those features are an antenna farm with transmitters for cellular phones, radio, television, and law enforcement transmitters.  They are not related to the military installation in the mountain. They are obviously hidden from public view.  

During the 1950s, an antenna farm was built on the middle peak of the mountain when Bert Swisher deeded ten acres to Bud Edmonds and several backers and Swisher signed a non-compete agreement.  Edmonds, John Browne, and Buck Ingersoll agreed to replace the trails to the area with a real road, which was opened in 1960 by the Cheyenne Propagation Company.  

Currently there are 700 cell phone, television, radio, and law enforcement transmitters on the antenna farm.  The Cheyenne Mountain radio repeater site, 145.160, covers south central and southeast Colorado along the Interstate 25 corridor from Monument to the New Mexico border.  Since 2002, it has been operated by Cheyenne Propagation Company.

Is NORAD still in the Cheyenne Mountain?

NORAD used to offer public tours, but due to security concerns they were suspended after 9-11.  Most of the center’s operations moved to Peterson Air Force Base in 2006,. Then in April 2015, the Pentagon reported that some operations would be moving back. For more info, click here...

Find out more about Cheyenne Mountain:

More information on Cheyenne Mtn (Parks) – Click Here!

All images courtesy of posted website links or wikipedia.com
Travel Related Post: Colorado Museums
Enjoy going back in time by visiting these Colorado ruins!

Packing Essentials for Summer Camping in Colorado:
(Courtesy of Camping in Colorado: The Basics)
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• Tent with a rain cover

• Down sleeping bag (even in summer, it can get below freezing in Colorado’s higher altitudes)

• Pillow and sleeping pad (keeps you warmer than just sleepin’ on the ground)

• Camp stove and/or matches to use your campsite’s fire pit

• Plenty of drinking water and food

• Can opener, aluminum foil, paper plates, cups/mugs, utensils, multipurpose knife, trash bags, paper towels

• Layers of clothing, including water-resistant coat, wool socks and long underwear

• Flashlights/headlamps/lanterns

• Sunscreen, bug spray, first-aid kit, toilet paper

(Above Photo Courtesy of: Palisade Basecamp RV Resort)

The town of Victor, Colorado is known as the City of Gold Mines. It is located at nearly an elevation of 10,000 feet on the southwest side of Pikes Peak in the Cripple Creek Victor Mining District.

Victor is central to the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway and designated as a National Historic District. This well-preserved gold mining town is 45 minutes from Colorado Springs and  Pikes Peak. 

Victor is a unique setting of 1890's mine structures and turn-of-the-century buildings, unique shops and restaurants, as well as hiking trails, museums, and gold mining experiences. You will find clean, cool mountain air and plenty of year-round sunshine. Victor prides itself in not having stoplights, chair stores, traffic, or anything resembling the "rat race"! Source...

Battle Mountain which is located just above Victor had the largest, most prolific mines in the mining district. Thus, the town became known as the "City of Mines." The Mt. Rosa Mining, Milling and Land Company was founded in 1892 by Harry, Frank and Warren Woods. In 1894 the Woods brothers discovered gold when they began digging the foundation for a building, which resulted in the creation of the Gold Coin Mine. At that time 8,000 people lived in Victor.

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In recent years mining has resumed in the area. The Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company formed in 1976 as a joint venture to restart mining in the district. From 1976 to 1989, the company produced 150,000 troy ounces (4,600 kg) of gold by reprocessing tailings and mining two small surface deposits.

The Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company began the first large-scale open pit mining in the district in 1994. In 1995 an open pit gold mining operation, which taps into "legendary" mines, began on Battle Mountain. Mining continued at the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine, under the ownership of AngloGold Ashanti which produced about 250,000 troy ounces of gold in 2012, in addition to several locally owned mines, all of which provide employment and revenue for the community. Ownership has recently changed from Anglo Gold to Newmont mining.

See below, an historic gold mine near Victor, Colorado...