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Wanna Visit Glorieta and Real History?

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Contributed by: Dave Hughes on 9/2/2007

Why isn't the Capital of Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak where it belongs?

Why did Colorado City, founded in 1859 during the Gold Rush, located right beside the beautiful Rocky Mountains on bubbling Fountain Creek next to the spectacular Garden of the Gods and close to the famous mineral springs struggle to survive while that overgrown cow town of Denver, way out on the hot plains, prospered and grew?

You can blame those insufferable Southerners, especially Texans, and the Civil War they foolishly started. Even here in the Far West.

Didn't know Colorado City lived through the Civil War, which Colorado Springs never did?

Ever hear of the Battle of Glorieta Pass just south of here, where tough Pikes Peakers marched through Colorado City, whipped those uppity Texans and kicked them all the way out of southern New Mexico - until they return now only with money instead of guns?

Well, its a long tale. The Civil War killed Colorado City.

So now you have a chance to not only get educated on all the things that Colorado City went through, which Colorado Springs Schools never told you, and why things happened around here between 1861 and 1865 that defined its future forever.

The Old Colorado Historical Society is sponsoring the first Historical Tour that will take you south out of Old Colorado City, over stretches of the Sante Fe Trail, through the original Fort Union and on to the Gloriea Pass Battlefields in Northern New Mexico, and back, in two days.

It will cost a ridiculously low $185 or less for the two day trip with nine others like you, a running account about the Santa Fe Trail, a Park Ranger Tour around Fort Union National Monument, overnight in the beautiful Lifeway Convention Center night at Glorieta Pass, and a Ranger conducted tour next morning over the 1862 Battleground from Apache Canyon, Sharpshooters Ridge, to Pigeon's Ranch (whose main building still stands) all inthe Pecos National Historic Park. And that price includes the four meals.

You can start your education about this very significant period in Old Colorado City's history that helped shape its future and that of all Colorado Territory, by going to the History Society's rich Web site, and clicking on the highlighted 'Battle of Glorieta Pass, and Colorado City in the Civil War. Try this http://history.oldcolo.com/

Now that Web piece highlights the number and role that long dead West Point graduates played in that 'forgotten' New Mexico Civil War campaign - on both sides. As a West Point graduate myself who has fought a few wars I did the research behind it that no one else ever had. It was good enough that the Department of Military History at West Point asked to put it on the servers there for cadets, faculty, and Civil War researchers. Its still there.

But the piece completely lays out the background of the events affecting the West from 1860 on, and in particular its impact on Colorado Territory and Colorado City. And its aftermath that cost Colorado City the Capital.

So do your homework about this exciting chapter in Colorado City's history.
The trip will go over the actual ground that the great 1st Colorado Volunteer Infantry Regiment marched and fought over. You'll learn about and see segments of the great Santa Fe Trail, ride in a comfortable 15 Passenger Van past great scenery, and we'll stop as desired for pictures and lunch in Trinidad. Then into Fort Union National Monument., and on to Glorieta, staying overnight in great lodging. The next morning we'll go over the Glorieta battlefield in the Pecos Natiional Historic Park - guided by Ranger guides. And you will see why the Pikes Peaker's won and why the Texans lost - not only the battles, but the Confederacy lost their dreams of an entire Western Empire across New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California all the way to the Pacific Ocean, where the Federal Navy couldn't touch them.

Decide whether you want to sign up.

There are three possible dates in October for the one tour this season, Friday/Saturday the 12th, 19th, or 26th. E-mail me your preference for which days ay history@oldcolo.com.
We will leave from the History Center by 9 a.m.Friday and be back the next day by 6p.m.

Everyone will share the total costs for the van rental, insurance, and gas (its a 600 mile round trip over the two days) and individuals will pay for their meals, and the room, and pay the $3 Park Pass and then a $2 tour pass for the conducted 9:30 a.m.to 11:30a.m. tour over the battlefield.

So sign up before we fill up (our Society's Sand Creek Battlefield similar tour for the 20th-21st of September is already filled up).

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CONTRIBUTOR INFO

Dave Hughes

Colorado Springs , CO

Dave Hughes has posted 80 stories and 87 comments since joining on 3/1/2007. Dave Hughes 's average story rating is 4.9.

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