People have known about the Manitou Mineral Springs for generations, as its mineral springs have attracted curious travelers over millennia. In fact, legend has it that the Ute once inhabited the region during the winter months many years ago. They did so due to the springs’ alleged medicinal healing properties, which repaired the body and rejuvenated the soul. (The Utes also felt that the water was spiritual, as the bubbles generated within the mineral springs were considered to have come from the “Great Spirit Manitou” itself.) Many other Native American people also arrived as well, including the likes of the Apache and the Cheyenne. European Americans first learned of the location from the tales of famous explorers who roamed the western plains at the start of the 19th century. Historians today credit Stephen Harriman Long and his team as being the first Americans to set eyes on the mineral springs, with Dr. Edwin James—the group’s resident botanist—stumbling upon the boiling body of water in 1820. Soon enough, adventurers from across the globe followed up on Dr. James’ account. English explorer George Frederick Ruxton would even write about his personal experiences at the site in his popular book, Life in the Far West. But in the 1870s, Dr. William Abraham Bell and William Jackson Palmer—a Civil War general—decided to establish a health resort in the area, inspired by the stories they had heard regarding its mystical abilities. Having watched the neighboring community of Colorado Springs successfully emerge a decade prior, the two endeavored to create their own brilliant retreat around the Manitou Mineral Springs. They specifically envisioned the town to contain nothing than season villas and grand hotels, clustered around several landscaped parks as well as the mineral springs.

Palmer soon teamed together with Henry McAllister to advertise the supposed medical benefits of the Manitou Springs, even going as far as to declare that the region had “incomparable climate and scenery.” Enterprising hoteliers soon arrived in the town, creating several outstanding hotels and inns. Those suffering from various ailments quickly flocked to the location, driven by Palmer and McAllister’s statements. But many other people came to the fledgling community—eventually called “Manitou Springs” after the wells themselves—such as merchants, farmers, and ordinary families. Much to the dismay of Bell and Palmer, those individuals constructed all kinds of residences and storefronts with the latest Victorians architectural styles, giving the town its rustic, historical charm that still persists today. Yet, Manitou Springs continued to operate as a dual resort community and health spa. Medical practitioners across the nation kept endorsing the views expressed by the town’s founders, with Dr. Edwin Solly taking the most adamant approach. He specifically championed Manitou Springs as a great destination for those suffering from tuberculosis, considering the well water perfect for the infirm. As such, local businesspeople began drilling their own wells to access the Manitou Springs, with around 50 active by the 1890s. Some of the wells were even enclosed in special houses, producing a unique landscape for the community. Among the most noteworthy were the 7 Minute Spring, the Cheyenne Spring House, and the Shoshone Spring. (Some of the structures are currently listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.)

Over time, Manitou Springs developed a reputation as an exclusive vacation hotspot, as guests increasingly yearned to visit the cultural attractions scattered across the region. Most of the locations consisted of grand natural wonders, such as the Rainbow Falls, Garden of the Gods, and Cave of the Winds. The historic Manitou and Pikes Peak COG Railway ferried people across the countryside as well, which provided one of the most memorable experiences. But the town’s legendary spring water remained central to the identity of Manitou Springs. Jerome Wheeler—a former president of Macy’s Department Store—even constructed a three-story bottling plant in order to share the mineral springs with people all over the United States. Today, Manitou Springs continues to be one of the most exciting places to vacation in Colorado. It proudly embraces its historical past, offering tours of its historic mineral springs to all who are interested in learning more. Manitou Springs is also home to numerous cultural attractions, such as Miramont Castle Museum, the Manitou Springs Heritage Center, and the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Much of the town is preserved as the “Manitou Springs Historic District,” which is one of the largest of its kind in the entire United States. Truly few places are better in the vicinity of the famed Colorado Rockies for a historically-themed trip than Manitou Springs.

The Cliff House at Pikes Peak displays some of the finest Queen Anne-style architecture in the state of Colorado. Considered a successor to Eastlake architecture, Queen Anne became a widely popular architectural style at the height of the Gilded Age. Named in honor of the 18th-century British monarch, Queen Anne, the architectural form started in England before migrating to the United States. Yet, its name is misleading, as it actually borrowed its design principles from buildings constructed during the Renaissance. While the appearance of Queen Anne-style buildings may differ considerably, they are all united by several common features. For instance, they are typically asymmetrical in nature, and are built with some combination of stone, brick, and wood. Those buildings also feature a large wrap-around porch, as well as a couple polygonal towers. Those towers may also be accompanied by turrets along the corners of a building’s exterior façade. And like Shingle-style architecture, structures designed with Queen Anne-style design principles may also have pitched, gabled roofs that feature irregular shapes and patterns. Intricate wood carvings are a common sight throughout their layout, too, and are often designed in such a way to resemble different objects. As such, guests viewing the architectural features of Queen Anne architecture many feel as if they had been staring at an illusion! Clapboard paneling and half-timbering are a few other forms of woodworking that are regularly found somewhere within a Queen Anne-style structure. Nonetheless, the innate aspects of the hotel’s brilliant Queen Anne architecture blends seamlessly with its Shingle-style aesthetics, giving it a rare, beautiful appearance.

William Henry Jackson, explorer and photographer remembered for his images of the American West.

F.W. Woolworth, founder of the F.W. Woolworth Company and an innovator of the modern retail market.

J. Paul Getty, founder of the Getty Oil Company.

Charles Dickens, Jr., author and first-born son of the famous English novelist, Charles Dickens.

P.T. Barnum, showman best remembered for founding the famous “Barnum & Bailey Circus.”

Thomas Edison, inventor known for such inventions as the motion picture camera and the lightbulb. 

Clark Gable, actor known for his roles in It Happened One Night, Mutiny on the Bounty, Gone with the Wind.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Austria

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States (1901 – 1909)