Old Colorado City Historical Society

Old Colorado City Historical Society Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Old Colorado City Historical Society, History Museum, 1 S. 24th Street, Colorado Springs, CO.

We are a volunteer-run historical society, history center, and bookstore dedicated to preserving the history of Old Colorado City and the Westside of Colorado Springs.

Check out these rare photos of life during the 1903 Colorado City Labor Wars. It began when workers at the Standard Mill...
08/30/2026

Check out these rare photos of life during the 1903 Colorado City Labor Wars. It began when workers at the Standard Mill Reduction plant walked off the job to demand an eight-hour workday and union recognition, sparking the wider Colorado Labor Wars across the state. Governor Peabody deployed the Colorado National Guard to our area to break the union at what was called Camp Peabody in Colorado City. The National Guard even brought in Gatling guns.

08/25/2026

Beneath the October sky, Fairview Cemetery splits into two worlds. Step beyond the gates and leave the present behind.

For our annual Legends & Lore cemetery crawl, the paths of Fairview will be transformed into two very different sides of town.

Follow the red lights into the darker streets… the side of town where temptation, trouble, murder, and secrets were never far away. Then cross into the white-lit streets of the respectable side, where shopkeepers, business owners, families, and ordinary citizens built their lives and tried to keep order.

But which side will you think is more interesting?

Along the way, you’ll meet people from our community’s past, each with a story to tell. Hear from a police chief who spent years fighting to shut down the red-light district. Meet a pr******te who got tangled with the wrong person, business owners who witnessed the happenings around them, a naturalist and fossil collector with a fascinating life, and even a “wet” town mayor whose story may look quite different depending on who is telling it….. just to name a few!

You’ll hear stories of survival, ordinary life, and the complicated people who lived it all.

This year’s crawl features characters never before portrayed on our tour, along with a few familiar faces who still have plenty more to say, and perhaps a very different version of their story to tell. Every character has been heavily researched from historical records, bringing real lives, real struggles, and real personalities back to life through the actors who portray them. These are people who once walked our streets, built our community, and lived lives worth remembering.

And now, for one day in October, they’re waiting for you in the cemetery.

Your lantern-guided journey will wind through nine stops, with tour guides leading you along the red and white lit paths. Along the way, enjoy a warm drink and snack as the stories of Fairview’s past unfold around you.

Dress warmly. Bring your curiosity. And whatever you do…

Don’t assume the "bad side" of town was as shady as it seemed or that the “good side” of town was ever as innocent as it looked. 👻

Tickets on sale SOON! More details to come!

Yesterday, we had the honor of gathering with some of our wonderful OCCHS members for a very special Founder's Day lawn ...
08/17/2026

Yesterday, we had the honor of gathering with some of our wonderful OCCHS members for a very special Founder's Day lawn picnic at the beautiful McAllister House Museum! (If you haven't been, definitely treat yourself to an amazing, informational tour!)

Of course, Colorado weather decided to make an appearance! A little rain came our way, but thankfully, the magnificent old tree on the McAllister House grounds gave us the perfect shelter. Beneath its branches, we enjoyed 3 short speeches, a delicious catered meal, Dutch bakery desserts, teas and lemonades, Victorian-era music, three raffle drawings, and good conversation and wonderful company.

Our Founder's Day celebration was held in honor of August 12, 1859, the day Colorado City was founded. But we also wanted this gathering to be about more than just remembering a date or reciting the names of our founders. We spent time talking about what a founder really means and who we consider to be the people who shaped a place and helped build a community.

That gave us the opportunity to tell a bigger story. One that intertwines the beginnings of Colorado City with the beginnings of Colorado Springs and recognizes the shared history of our entire Pikes Peak region. And, importantly, that story begins long before either community existed, with the Native peoples who lived on and cared for this land for generations.

Every table was thoughtfully decorated, with special gift bags waiting for our members at each place setting. Tables also featured plaques highlighting some of our Colorado City founders, sharing the stories of the things they accomplished, created, and began here.

We had such a wonderful time, and we truly hope our friends, members, and volunteers from both organizations enjoyed the afternoon as much as we did.

A very special thank you to Amy Miller and Eric Metzger of the McAllister House Museum, as well as their two young volunteers, Cat and River, who worked alongside us throughout the day. Thank you for welcoming us, helping make this event so special, and for partnering with us. Amy, you were absolutely right when you said that we are stronger together. Our histories are deeply connected, and there is something incredibly meaningful about bringing those stories together rather than keeping them in separate chapters.

We also want to extend our sincere thanks to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum for providing the canopies. With yesterday's rain, they certainly proved to be a very useful addition!

And finally, this celebration was a wonderful example of what our OCCHS Events Committee can create. This free members-only event was thoughtfully led by Monalisa Taylor and Zach Taylor, who truly left no detail undone. What a beautiful, welcoming, and meaningful afternoon you created for our members.

This is one of the special things about being part of the Old Colorado City Historical Society. Membership isn't just about preserving history. It's about coming together, making connections, celebrating the past, and creating new memories with the people who care about it, just as we do.

We are so grateful for everyone who helped make Founder's Day 2026 one we won't soon forget.

At the end of it all... Our history is shared. Our stories are connected. And we are stronger together. Thank you, everyone and enjoy some photos! ❤️

📸 - Amanda Severeid-Long

Today is the day! We cannot wait to enjoy the afternoon with our members at the beautiful McAllister House! If you signe...
08/15/2026

Today is the day! We cannot wait to enjoy the afternoon with our members at the beautiful McAllister House! If you signed up, we'll see you there! 🥰

These two incredible photographs capture some of the earliest non-indigenous settlers of the Pikes Peak Region. Many of ...
08/11/2026

These two incredible photographs capture some of the earliest non-indigenous settlers of the Pikes Peak Region. Many of the very people who helped build Colorado City before Colorado Springs existed. And yet, some of these same pioneers would later go on to help General Palmer establish his “Little London” as Colorado Springs began to take shape. (Please click to enlarge the photos)

Photo 1 was taken in 1914 and features members of the Half Century Club, an organization made up of men and women who had lived in the Pikes Peak Region for 25 years or more at that time. Among those pictured are many familiar names from Colorado City history.

In order, from the top row, left to right, all the way down:
Melancthon Sayre Beach, Irving Howbert, F.J. Smith, M.A. Foster, Mrs. Lillie Douglas, Clem Kinsman, J.M. Brush, W.F. Dixon, David Irvine, George Howard, Frank Cotton, S.M. Buzzard, Edgar Howbert, Eugene Roberts, Marcellus Douglas.
Lower row: Henry Cooper, Mrs. E.J. Smith, Mrs. Lizzie Foster, Mrs. Amanda Husted, Mrs. Alice Finley, Mrs. W.W. Price, Mrs. Mary Myers, Mrs. Anna Faulkner, David Spielman, F.M. Robbins, Anthony Bott, and James Sims.

Photo 2 was taken 13 years earlier, in 1901, during the Colorado Pioneers Quarto-Centennial, gathered in front of the Antlers Hotel. The only person identified in this photograph is Irving Howbert, noted as “third from the left in the first row of those standing.” But we can also confidently recognize Anthony Bott, seated at the lower right. We're pretty sure we can spot Mr. Buzzard in there as well!

Comparing these two photographs is fascinating. Some of the same faces appear in both images, separated by more than a decade. Many of these pioneers first came to the Pikes Peak Region to establish Colorado City in the late 1850s and early 1860s, and many would later play a role in shaping the growth of the entire region. If you recognize anyone, let us know!

Trivia Time! ⏰️ On what building in Old Colorado City can you find this piece of a mural? (Honestly, it would have been ...
08/07/2026

Trivia Time! ⏰️

On what building in Old Colorado City can you find this piece of a mural? (Honestly, it would have been a real life situation back in 1890's Colorado City! 🤣)

Answer tomorrow! ✔️

Happy 150th Birthday, Colorado! ❤️💛💙When you say the word Colorado, you're saying the name of a little frontier town tha...
08/02/2026

Happy 150th Birthday, Colorado! ❤️💛💙

When you say the word Colorado, you're saying the name of a little frontier town that once stood all alone on the western edge of what is now Colorado Springs.

A lot began here.

Long before Colorado became a territory or the 38th state, Spanish explorers had called the mighty river to the west Río Colorado - the "colored" or "red" river. At the time of Colorado City's founding, it was still called the Grand River. It wasn't until 1921 that the resolution was passed for its name to officially be the Colorado River. Just like settlers were calling this Colorado before it was official. But in 1859, a group of determined pioneers chose that same name for the first permanent town in the Pikes Peak Region: Colorado City.

Originally, founder Anthony Bott had hoped to establish a settlement called El Dorado. After arriving in the Pikes Peak region in 1858, he traveled north to recruit investors and settlers, determined to show others the incredible promise of this region. When the town was laid out, Bott explained that the name Colorado honored both the Spanish word for "red" and the spectacular red landscape surrounding the settlement.

Imagine standing here in 1859. To the west rose the towering red sandstone formations of Garden of the Gods. To the south stretched the crimson cliffs of Red Rock Canyon. The bluffs and the red soil beneath their feet… It wasn't difficult to understand why "Colorado" seemed like the perfect name.

During one of those early scouting expeditions, founders Rufus Cable and Melancthon Beach famously christened Garden of the Gods with its name, while others also came to survey streets, build businesses, and sell the very first lots in Colorado City. Before there was a Colorado Territory... before there was Colorado Springs...a State of Colorado... there was Colorado City.

As leaders debated what to call the new territory, several founders from Colorado City advocated for the name of their hometown by traveling to Washington to lobby for it. Other possibilities including Jefferson, Montana, Pikes Peak, Osage and Idaho were discussed, but "Colorado" ultimately prevailed. Colorado City's founders helped secure the name Colorado for the territory in 1861 and, later, the state on August 1st, 1876. Colorado proudly entered the Union as the 38th state.

Today, millions of people call Colorado home. They climb its mountains, hike its trails, and marvel at its beauty. Few realize that the name they proudly wear traces back to a small frontier community on the Westside… a place built by visionaries who believed this area was destined for something extraordinary.

So today, as Colorado celebrates 150 years of statehood, we're reminded that the story of our state didn't only happen in Denver or at the Capitol building. Part of that story began right here at the state's first territorial capitol... in little Colorado City.

Happy 150th Birthday, Colorado! Here's to ALL the pioneers, Native Americans, settlers, explorers, inhabitants, travelers and everyone in between - who gave our state its name, helped shape its future and continue to build our stories and history.

📖🪱Bookworms?! Not the kind we like! Did you know "bookworms" are real? Well not really...but they aren't completely made...
08/01/2026

📖🪱Bookworms?! Not the kind we like! Did you know "bookworms" are real? Well not really...but they aren't completely made up!

This cute little 1906 dictionary was gnawed on by the mythical bookworm, which in reality, can be anything from beetles, to booklice, to silverfish, and even termites. While these insects (especially their larva) are most often attracted to the delicious all-natural glues and leathers used in book making, this extra pulpy paper was clearly a great snack.

This book was likely visited by a species of beetle sometime in the last 120 years. Sometimes the boreholes can make some interesting designs! Keep an eye out for these sneaky little holes when collecting antique books, and make sure that their occupants are long gone before bringing them home. When in doubt, stick new books in the freezer for a day in an airtight container, thaw, then repeat before adding them to your shelves.

Have you heard of Colorado City's Isis Theater?The Isis Theater opened in the early 1920s and remained a beloved part of...
07/23/2026

Have you heard of Colorado City's Isis Theater?

The Isis Theater opened in the early 1920s and remained a beloved part of Colorado City for many years. Operated by Robert, Nathan and Samuel Chamberlain, it was originally located where the Sno-White building stands today. That original building has long since been torn down, but the Isis later moved into what many know as the Waycott Opera House or Mack's Candy and today, Mother Muffs.

In his writings, Ira Current shared some wonderful memories of growing up in Colorado City and going to the Isis. He recalled how his mother, Anna Current, would quietly give the children a few coins from the family's savings jar so they could enjoy the movies and programs at the theater. They'd secretly make sure their father, Park, didn't know the money had been spent on entertainment! ;) It seems admission was just 10 cents or less, making it an affordable treat for local families.

The Isis was more than just a movie theater. It also hosted local school productions and community plays, making it an important gathering place for the community.

One of Ira's favorite memories was watching a movie company film three westerns at Red Rock Canyon. He and his brother were fascinated by the filmmaking process and even ended up as extras in one of the films, pretending to leave a shift at a mine that had been created using one of the canyon's buildings. Ira believed the movie was called The Gold Grabbers, and the boys eagerly looked forward to maybe seeing it at the Isis once it was completed.

Already interested in filmmaking himself, Ira was equally fascinated by the Alexander Film Company. Their laboratory was located on the south side of Colorado Avenue, and he and his siblings would often stop to watch one of their school friends operate an animation camera. They were even able to watch strips of film drying on large wooden reels for a behind-the-scenes look at movie magic.

Among the popular silent films shown at the Isis were Tarzan of the Apes, The Mark of Zorro, The Covered Wagon, Child of the Prairie, Cupid's Round-Up starring Tom Mix, and William S. Hart westerns such as Hell's Hinges and Wagon Tracks. A dime well spent!

📸 - OCCHS Archives - Current Collection. This is a 1929 photo of the Isis. On the back it says - "Little Theater Group" 1929. A little theater group that presented its production in the Isis Theater. Second from left; Audrey Caton; seventh from left; Floyd Caton." The Caton and Current children were good friends.

📸 - PPLD - Colorado Springs City Directories from 1922 and 1928 showing the Chamberlain's and the addresses of the Isis Theater.

Please join us! The meeting is next Tuesday at 10 am! If you would like to be a part of the Events Committee and cannot ...
07/23/2026

Please join us! The meeting is next Tuesday at 10 am! If you would like to be a part of the Events Committee and cannot make the meeting, please reach out to us here on Facebook or our email at [email protected]!

Address

1 S. 24th Street
Colorado Springs, CO
80904

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+17196361225

Website

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