Saturday, 13 June 2015
Peregrine Pines FamCamp; USAFA, Colorado Springs — Colorado
Temps: Hi 77F (25C) / Lo 48F (9C)
O beautiful for spacious skies … For amber waves of grain … For purple mountain majesties … Above the fruited plain! … America! America! … God shed His grace on thee … And crown thy good with brotherhood … From sea to shining sea. …
So what does this beautiful song have to do with what we did today? Aside from the fact, that is, that Bates was inspired to write the words after a visit to Pikes Peak, which towers over Colorado Springs (CoS) and is visible from almost everywhere you go in and around town … including USAFA (photo above)!
Let me ‘splain.
After running a few errands in CoS today, including a stop at the Visitor’s Center in town to pick up information about activities in the area, I asked Mui to drive me to a park … a park once known as Confluence Park … a park that is now known as the America the Beautiful Park. He obliged, and a few short minutes later, after driving through what looked like a rail yard, we arrived at this special park. How did I know there was a small gem like this in CoS? Purely by chance — I saw a picture of a fountain that intrigued me. Don’t recollect where I saw the photo, but I knew I wanted to see the fountain.
A “Two to Travel” postcard with Pikes Peak, the inspiration for
America the Beautiful, circled by the Julie Penrose Fountain sculpture.
A group was setting up on the lawn for an event, so instead of crossing straight to the fountain, we took the path circling the perimeter. That’s when we found the memorial dedicated to the park’s namesake — America the Beautiful … the song.
The centennial memorial with the snow-frosted Pikes Peak in the background.
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Left: The bronze panel is inscribed with the first two stanzas of the 1913 version of the poem.
Right: A bronze panel tells the story of how America the Beautiful came to be.
[click either picture for a larger, more legible version.]
Bas relief details from the center panel of the memorial.
Too good of a postcard opportunity; can’t pass it up.
Eventually, we wound our way over to the Julie Penrose Fountain … dedicated to a woman described simply as a great friend of Colorado Springs. Beautiful in its simplicity, the Continuum sculpture took my breath away … and I had to capture it from all angles, of course.
Dedicated eight year ago on 7 June 2007, the sculpture was designed by David Barber and Bill Burgess. Locally, some people refer to it as the “Stargate” sculpture … a reference to the popular TV show Stargate SG-1 … some of the episodes of which take place in CoS.
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The four-story tall sculpture was inspired by Pikes Peak, where — according to the designers —
”… the silent rotation of snow, melt water, and irrigation are on timeless display.”
Mui provides perspective for the size of the sculpture by going up to it, …
… while I take a more distant approach to show the setting in which the sculpture sits.
It was such a beautiful morning that we decided to walk the trail that we saw branching off the perimeter path. We didn’t get far … seeing a few too many ‘shady’ characters around the bridge, we decided that retreat was the better part of valor.
Even the anti-littering signs around the park are small pieces of art.
If there was one disappointment to our visit, it was that the fountain was not operating. I understand there are 360 jets that spray water when the fountain is working. There was a sign nearby saying that the fountain was closed due to storms, but there was no sign of any adverse weather while we were there. Perhaps on another visit into CoS, we can stop by and see the fountain in action.
Loved this. Special finds like this are what makes our lifestyles so satisfying. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNow those were some really nice postcards! Such a beautiful park, I never knew of it. Note to self: New Bucket List destination. :c)
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting sculpture. Never saw that in all the times we've visited Colorado Springs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat addition to the area! Love Stargates ;))
ReplyDeleteContinue with the fun-having.
Your first shot has me wanting to be in CO.
ReplyDeleteI am continually amazed at the clarity of the blue skies and puffy whites that are part of your days. Storms do have their benefits. What a great little park, another hidden gem that could get lost in the shuffle of ordinary tourists "doing" the area. Thank you Erin, for showing this one. By the way...check out the Broadmoor Hotel..just for fun.
ReplyDeleteSue, every time we have lovely blue skies and white puffies, I remember how horribly overcast and dull it was for most of our time in Iceland in 2013 ... so I'm always grateful when the weather cooperates and consider it payback ;-))
ReplyDeleteWe were in Colorado Springs when we made the move from SLC to DC in 1991. In fact, we stayed at the lodge here at USAFA back then. I recall visiting Seven Falls and Broadmoor, but we were on a deadline so everything was rushed. So much to do and see in this beautiful area ... I know we won't get to do it all this time; we will definitely return.
How did we miss this? It is beautiful and the framing of Pikes Peak is perfect!
ReplyDelete