Offbeat Colorado Travel'Blogue
by C Street Photo

Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, Golden, Colorado

The historic Lariat Trail, now known as Lookout Mountain Road, is a narrow hair-pin switchback road with steep drop-offs that zigzags for 4.6 miles, rising 2,000 feet from Golden, Colorado to Lookout Mountain.

Atop Lookout Mountain is the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave.

Born in the Iowa Territory in 1846, William Frederick Cody experienced the Old West to its fullest. He herded cattle, worked on a wagon train, mined for gold, rode in the Pony Express, and scouted for the Army. His skill as a buffalo hunter earned him the nickname “Buffalo Bill” for killing 4,280 buffalo over an eighteen month period to feed railroad workers during the westward expansion. However, Cody’s true calling was showmanship and his elaborate Wild West shows with lady sharp shooters and Indian war re-enactments traveled the world leaving a lasting impression of the American West.

And the entertainment continued after his death.

When the world famous showman died in Colorado in January 1917 rival tourist interests in Wyoming and Nebraska claimed the rights to his body. However, according to his widow, Louisa, Cody wished to be buried atop Lookout Mountain because of its spectacular views of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. So “Buffalo Bill” was put on ice until the summer when the ground would be thawed enough for a grave to be dug.

On June 3, 1917, William “Buffalo Bill” Cody was buried on Lookout Mountain, five months after his passing. Fearing body snatchers, he was buried in a steal-lined vault, embedded in granite, under several tons of concrete, reinforced with steel rebar. Indeed, many years later, in 1948, the American Legion Post in Cody, Wyoming offered a substantial reward to anyone who could deliver the body of the town’s namesake. The Colorado National Guard was called to Lookout Mountain to guard the grave.

The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave is ranked by the Denver Post as one of the top ten tourist attractions in the Denver metro area. The museum features relics from the Old West and Cody’s Wild West Show. A large observation deck provides spectacular views of the Denver metropolitan area and the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Address

987 ½ Lookout Mountain Rd.
Golden, Colorado 80401
303-526-0747
www.buffalobill.org

Filed under: Golden | Post a comment

Koshare Indian Museum, La Junta, Colorado

Koshare, or sacred clown, is a supernatural being in the Rio Grande Pueblo cultures of the Southwest.

During religious ceremonies the Koshare, typically painted with black and white stripes, portray unacceptable behavior and provide entertainment and laughter with performances that are comic, sarcastic, and oftentimes obscene. Their behavior is intended to reinforce community values. For example, the Koshare are feared by the Hopi as a source of public criticism and condemnation of un-Hopi-like behavior.

Scoutmaster James Francis “Buck” Burshears thought the name was appropriate for the members of Boy Scout Troop 232. In 1933, he organized the Koshare Indian Dancers who interpret Native American dance and music.

The Koshare Indian Dancers are all members of Boy Scout Troop 232 of the Rocky Mountain Council. The troop, like any other Scout troop, provides a full program of scouting activities.

To become a Koshare Indian Dancer a Scout must be between the ages of 11 and 18 and have earned the Arrow of Light Award. Additional requirements include American Indian studies and maintaining a good grade average in school in order to progress through the ranks from Papoose to Chief. Each dancer is responsible for researching, designing, and constructing his own dance costume. The higher his rank, the more complex the costume becomes. All Koshare Indian Dancers participate in an active program of Scouting and American Indian culture.

The Koshare Indian Museum was built in 1949 by the Scouts under the direction of Burshears. It encompasses a 60-foot-wide authentic reproduction of a Native American Kiva with a self-supporting roof formed by 637 layered logs, all at least 26 feet long, weighing nearly 40 tons (pictured). The museum also contains an impressive collection of Native American artifacts and Southwestern art purchased by the Scouts with the proceeds from their performances.

Since their beginning, the Koshare Indian Dancers of Boy Scout Troop 232 have continued to preserve the heritage of the Pueblo and Plains Native Americans.

Watch them perform traditional Native American dances weeknights during June and July in the museum’s Kiva.

When in the area don’t miss nearby Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site.

Address

115 West 18^th Street
La Junta, Colorado 81050
719-384-4411
www.kosharehistory.org

Did You Know?

• To become a Chief in the Koshare Indian Dancers, a Scout must earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Filed under: La Junta | Post a comment

Masonic Cemetery, Central City, Colorado

Twice a year, like clockwork, Central City’s most famous graveyard spirit appears at sunset and places flowers on the grave of John Edward Cameron, a 28-year-old town fireman who died suddenly on November 1, 1887.

Each year on November 1 and April 5 the ghost of a beautiful woman in a black satin dress visits her lover’s grave site at the Masonic Cemetery in Central City. The connection between this woman and John Cameron is unknown, however she is believed by many to be Cameron’s jilted lover or widowed fiancée. Regardless, she attended his funeral and placed a bouquet of columbines on his fresh grave. She still does today - as a ghost.

Address

Masonic Cemetery
Nevada St.
Central City, Colorado 80427

Did You Know?

• Every August the Gilpin Historic Society hosts an annual Cemetery Crawl at one of Central City’s eleven graveyards with guides dressed in period costumes. Visit the Gilpin Historical Society for a schedule of events.

Filed under: Central City | Post a comment

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

On July 21, 2007 Japanese driving superstar Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima broke the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb course record by less than three seconds when he drove his custom-built Suzuki XL7 to a time of 10:01:408.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the highest motor racing event in the world with the finish line at the summit of fourteen thousand foot Pikes Peak.

The 12.4-mile course starts at 9,400 feet, already sapping strength from human lungs and high-powered engines, and rises to 14,110 feet up Pikes Peak Highway, a hair-pin switchback road that zigzags through 156 punishing turns with no guardrails.

Miss a turn such as the “Bottomless Pit” at 12,750 feet and you’re likely to fall 6,000 feet and unlikely to survive.

Now in its 88^th year, this Colorado institution is one of the oldest sanctioned auto races in the United States, second only to the Indianapolis 500.

The historic Hillclimb began in 1916 and was first won by Rea Lentz with a time of 20:55:40. Lentz won the race with a home built Romano Demon racer powered by a 125 HP V-8 402 cid Curtis airplane engine.

Nobuhiro Tajima bested Rod Millen’s 13-year-old record time of 10:04:06 with speeds topping out at 127 mph!

Featuring on average 150 competitors and a variety of classes of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and quads, the race has been won by such racing legends as Mario Andretti and Al and Bobby Unser.

This year the Hillclimb will take place on Sunday, June 27 with race related events all week.

Fan Fest is on Friday, June 25 in downtown Colorado Springs and will feature motorcycle jumpers, live bands, beer gardens, a chili cook off, and the Denver Bronco Cheerleaders.

Visit www.ppihc.com for all the details.

Filed under: Manitou Springs | 2 Comments

Forney Museum of Transportation, Denver, Colorado

What began as a small private collection in the 1960s has grown into one of the country’s best museums of buggies, trains, and automobiles. The Forney Museum of Transportation features over 100 antique and classic cars, carriages, bicycles, motorcycles, streetcars, sleighs, wagons, and carts.

Memorable exhibits include:

• Amelia Earhart’s 1923 “Goldbug” Kissel Speedster.
• Nepalese Prince Aly Khan’s 1927 Rolls-Royce with gold-plated hood and wheels.
• Ole’ Demo Derby Herbie #32 from the Disney movie Herbie Fully Loaded.
• “Zabeast” a 1975 Pontiac Grandville art car covered with more than 5,000 stickers.
• A 1967 Amphicar the world’s only mass-produced passenger amphibious vehicle designed for every day use.
• Union Pacific’s “Big Boy” #4005 the world’s largest steam locomotive at 134 feet long and weighing more than one million pounds.

While museum founder J.D. Forney collected antique cars, his wife, Rachael collected antique clothing many of which adorn the wax figures on display throughout the museum. One notable display features a 1920s fish-scaled flapper dress that originally cost a whopping $500.

Address

4303 Brighton Blvd.
Denver, Colorado 80216
303-297-1113
www.forneymuseum.org

What’s My Line?

• Can you guess the year and make of this car?

Filed under: Denver | 1 Comment

Danica Patrick Enters NASCAR

After months of speculation, Danica Patrick officially announced her leap into the NASCAR Nationwide Series, where she is scheduled to drive in twelve races for JR Motorsports - that is, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Motorsports.

“Danica Patrick, and the rest of you guys – Start Your Engines!”

Danica Mania Hits Colorado!

From billboards to full-page newspaper ads, Danica’s image appeared throughout the state for weeks as the rookie driving sensation prepared to come to Colorado for the first time to compete in the Honda Indy 225 IndyCar Series race at Pike’s Peak International Raceway (PPIR) on August 21, 2005.

Originally PPIR planned to market “the stars and the cars of the Indy 500″ but as “Danica Mania” exploded after she became the first woman to lead a lap in the world’s most famous auto race and ending up with a fourth-place finish, the best-ever finish by a female driver in the 89th running of the event, their focus shifted to Patrick.

Danica has inspired people of all ages, male and female, to become IndyCar fans.

On April 20, 2008, she became the first female to win a major closed-course auto race (dating back to 1909) when she took the checkered flag in the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi.

In the fall of 2005, PPIR was purchased by the International Speedway Corporation which closed the facility at the end of the 2005 season, forcing area fans to travel more than 500 miles to the nearest major track, Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.

Did You Know?

• The green flag is once again flying over Pikes Peak International Raceway and is now host to regional racing leagues.

Filed under: Fountain | 2 Comments

Oh My God Road, Idaho Springs, Colorado

“Oh My God” Road is a winding switchback road that zigzags for 8.5 miles, rising nearly 2,000 feet from Idaho Springs to Central City; from approximately 7,700 to 9,400 feet above sea level.

The road earned its exclamatory name for its narrow width, steep climb, and incredible views of Mount Evans and the Continental Divide.

During the 1870s and 1880s “Oh My God” Road, or Virginia Canyon Road (CR 279), was the main toll road between the Idaho Springs and Central City mining areas. The route was used by ore wagons coming down from the mines with the day’s production. A fully loaded ore wagon weighed approximately 8 tons, and traveling downhill, required a team of 16 mules, eight in the front and eight in the back to keep the load from careening out of control.

Once used to serve miners in the area, “Oh My God” Road now serves gamblers on their way to the popular gambling towns of Central City and Black Hawk.

The road passes through Colorado’s historic mining country with hundreds of glory holes, gob piles, and abandoned mines, as well as, through the old mining towns of Russell Gulch and the Old Glory Hole.

Widened in recent years, “Oh My God” Road is not nearly as death-defying as it used to be. However with its blind corners, lack of guardrails, and steep drop offs, one should still drive with caution. Although the road is well-maintained and easy to navigate it should not be attempted by camping vehicles or drivers unaccustomed to mountain driving.

Directions

In Idaho Springs go north at the intersection of Virginia Canyon Rd. and Placer St. Follow signs to Central City.

Do You Know?

• Do you know who the artist of this intricate mural is? It is an interesting and detailed piece of local art. View its amazing detail. Please comment.

Filed under: Idaho Springs | Post a comment

Big Ten Curve Railroad Hidden Windbreak

Just west of Colorado Highway 93 and south of Colorado Highway 72 (Coal Creek Canyon), between Golden and Boulder, sits a permanent consist of two dozen open-top railroad hopper cars painted to unobtrusively blend-in with the surrounding countryside.

Built in the early 1970s, the cars were filled with ballast and welded to track on the inside of the mainline to serve as a windbreak for trains rounding Big Ten Curve at the base of Leyden Mesa from the sometimes hurricane-force winds that blow down off of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Hardly noticeable to the casual observer, the hoppers have been protecting trains from being blown off the tracks for over three decades.

Directions

Southwest of the intersection of CO 93 and CO 72

Did You Know?

• The Big Ten Curve is a marvel in mountain railroad surveying. Built in 1902 by the Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railway (later the Denver and Salt Lake Railroad), the Big Ten is an innovative S-shaped curve that arcs along the base of the foothills where the Great Plains transition to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. It is named for its sharp, ten-degree radius curvature.

Filed under: Golden | Post a comment

Matchless Mine, Leadville, Colorado

Horace Austin Warner Tabor was a grocer in the mining town of Leadville when, in 1878, he grubstaked two down-on-their luck miners for $17 in supplies. In return, he became an equal partner in their claim at the “worthless” Little Pittsburg Mine. A year later, the two prospectors struck the silver mother lode, and Tabor sold his claim for $1 million (approximately $22 million in today’s dollars!).

Over the next decade the generous, gregarious, boisterous, and civic-minded Tabor became very influential in Colorado society. He continued to invest in mining, including the famous Matchless Mine (photo), and real estate in Leadville and Denver. He opened two opera houses, in Leadville and Denver, served as first mayor of Leadville, and was elected Colorado’s lieutenant governor.

Unfortunately, Tabor was unhappily married to Augusta, his wife of 25 years.

In 1880, 25-year-old divorcee Elizabeth McCourt Doe, Baby to her friends and family, arrived in Leadville where she sang at the Tabor Opera House. Young, blonde, beautiful, and full of life, Baby Doe caught the eye of the unhappy Tabor. Shortly thereafter he left Augusta for the younger and prettier Baby Doe. After filing for divorce in 1882, he and Baby were secretly married. Augusta challenged the validity of the divorce and it was ruled legally invalid.

The scandal shocked the nation as the love triangle was front page news across the country. The publicity cost Tabor his political popularity. He unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in 1886 and for governor in 1888. Eventually, Augusta agreed to a substantial settlement, and Horace and Baby Doe were remarried in 1883 in a lavish ceremony in Washington, D.C. attended by President Chester A. Arthur. She was 28 and he was 52. He, the wealthy older man, and she the disgraced younger divorcé, were never again accepted into “polite” society.

Despite their social snubbing, the Tabors lived extravagantly in Denver from the profits from the Matchless Mine. Purchased for $117,000 in 1878, the Matchless Mine returned $14 million (approximately $332 million in today’s dollars!) in silver to its owner, Horace Tabor. In 1890 the United States Congress passed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act that required the government to purchase nearly twice as much silver as before. After the Silver Panic of 1893, President Cleveland called a special session of Congress and repealed the act. This dealt Tabor a devastating blow as his Matchless Mine was then worthless. At the age of 65, Horace Austin Warner Tabor was shoveling slag in Cripple Creek for $3 a day and Baby Doe Tabor would never again live in the luxurious lifestyle she had become accustomed to.

On March 7, 1935, Baby Doe Tabor’s frozen body was found on the floor of her small shack at the famous Matchless Mine. She had died of a heart attack two weeks earlier. For reasons unknown, Baby Doe had adopted the storage shack at the Matchless Mine as her home since her husband’s death in 1899, 35 years earlier. Legend has it that the dying Horace Tabor’s last words to Baby Doe was, “Hold on to the Matchless as it will pay millions again.” However, history shows that the worthless Matchless Mine had been sold to pay Tabor’s debts and the new owner allowed Baby Doe to live in the supply shack next to the mine (photo on left) after Tabor’s death.

Elizabeth McCourt “Baby Doe” Tabor, once a multi-millionaire, stood by her husband through sickness and poverty… and died alone and penniless.

Address

Matchless Mine

414 E. 7^th St.
Leadville, Colorado 80461
719-486-1229

Did You Know?

• Leadville residents still hold strong opinions about the West’s most celebrated love triangle. Some feel for long-suffering Augusta Tabor who eventually received a substantial part of the Tabor fortune in a final divorce decree and moved to Pasadena, California where she died on February 1, 1895 some say from a broken heart. While others feel for Baby Doe who proved she was more than a fortune hunter and truly loved her husband by staying with him in sickness and poverty.

Filed under: Leadville | Post a comment

Dinosaur Ridge Museum, Morrison, Colorado

In 1877, Arthur Lakes, considered by many scientists the “Father of Colorado Geology,” made a discovery that added fuel to the “Bone Wars,” also known as the “Great Dinosaur Rush,” between Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope, two pre-eminent paleontologists of the day.

It is here, at Dinosaur Ridge, that Lakes unearthed the skeletal remains of the Apatosaurus, better known as the Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Allosaurus; representing life 150 million years ago during the Jurassic Period, thus intensifying the fossil-collecting feud between archrivals Othniel Marsh, of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale, and Edward Cope, of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.

Unaware of the feud, Lakes sent a letter describing his find and fossil samples to both Marsh and Cope. Marsh paid Lakes $100 to keep his discovery a secret, and when he discovered that Cope had been notified, he dispatched an agent west to secure his claim.

Although the beginning of the Bone Wars is unclear, the two scientists resorted to bribery, trickery, and outright theft in order to outperform the other in their field. They attacked each other in scientific publications seeking to discredit the other. They used their wealth and influence to finance their own expeditions, and by the end of the Bone Wars, both men had exhausted their funds and were financially and socially ruined by their attempts to disgrace each other.

However, their contributions to the field of paleontology were substantial. In their race to outdo the other, the two men discovered and described over 130 new species of dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Ridge, also known as the Dakota Hogback, is located west of Denver in the Front Range foothills between Golden and Morrison.

While all Lakes’ excavated fossils were sent to the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, more recent excavations have located footprints, fossils, and ripple marks all along the hogbacks.

Voted “Top Tourist Attraction Locals Should Visit” by readers of 5280 Magazine, the Dinosaur Ridge Museum (pictured) and self-guided walking tour, along the one-mile stretch of Alameda Parkway over Dinosaur Ridge, showcase some of these remarkable finds.

Address

16831 W. Alameda Parkway
Morrison, Colorado 80465
303-697-3466
www.dinoridge.org

Did You Know?

• Othniel Charles Marsh won the Bone Wars, which ran from the 1870s into the 1890s. He discovered 80 new species of dinosaur while Edward Drinker Cope discovered 56.

Filed under: Morrison | Post a comment