Fishing on the Net

By Bonnie Nelson

Garden of the Gods

Two young town builders wandered into this majestic rock formation during the great Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1859. It was known ever after as the Garden of the Gods. The pair stood for a moment in speechless wonder, gaping at the gigantic sandstone rocks that stretched towards the summer sky. Finally, Melancthon Beach broke the silence (http://www.geocities. com/Heartland/Trail/8119/):

"This will make a capital place for a beer garden, when the country grows up."

"Beer Garden!" exclaimed his more poetic partner, Rufus Cable. "Why it is a fit place for the gods to assemble, and we will call it the Garden of the Gods."

For years many of us have climbed through and around the Garden of the Gods. It is an awesome place that commands the visitor to stop and listen to what the rocks and trees have to say. Many of these rock formations are over 300 million years old and were sculpted through time by erosion

When you first see these majestic rock formations, you may wonder about their red coloring. That is due to iron oxide. The tallest formation in the park is 320 feet--the Kissing Camels. It actually looks like two camels giving each other a kiss!

In the summer of 1993, ancient hearths, or fire rings, of stones were recognized by an archaeologist. Animal bones, including buffalo, and stone tools were found near the hearths. Some of the fire rings seemed fairly recent and were probably used by the Ute Indians who visited the Garden on a regular bas but mostly as a winter campsite. The nearby rocks would have provided shelter from summer sun or winter winds (http://www.springsgov.com/).

In 1909 the Garden of the Gods was dedicated as a free city park. Abundant plant and animal life can be found throughout the 1,340 acres. In 1879, Charles Perkins purchased much of the land now known as the Garden of the Gods. At his request, his family gave the land to the City of Colorado Springs to be used as a park. The stipulations included that it be known as Garden of the Gods and it would remain free forever to all visitors.

If you havenít walked the trails in the Garden, take a little time and go. You are never disappointed. Just listen to the winds and they will tell you the Gardenís story.

Bonnie Nelson is a freelance writer living in Fountain, CO. If you have any comments or questions, email her at waltbon@comcast.net

CONTACT THE WRITER • WALTBON@COMCAST.nET

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