How Garden of the Gods is ‘living history’ and remains a free attraction in Colorado
One of the top must-see destinations in Colorado is Garden of the Gods, which was ranked in 2014 by TripAdvisor as the #1 park in the United States. Located in Colorado Springs, this attraction remains free to the public thanks to the park’s founder. The free nature of the park is just one of many reasons this spot is special.
Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak (Photo) Credit SWKrullImaging (iStock)
1. Beer had something to do with naming Garden of the Gods
As classic Colorado stereotypes go, conversations about beer were happening in 1859. Two railroad surveyors were sent to the area of Colorado City, which is now the Colorado Springs area, to develop a townsite. When the surveyors M. S. Beach and Rufus Cable discovered the towering red rocks, Beach said the field of sandstone monoliths would be “a capital place for a beer garden.” Cable rejected, and said the park was instead a “fit place for the gods to assemble.” Thus, the name Garden of the Gods came to be.
Photo Credit: SWKrullImaging (iStock).
Garden of the Gods (Photo) Credit tonda (iStock)
2. Charles Elliott Perkins first purchased the land
General William Jackson Palmer founded Colorado Springs in 1871 and later urged his friend to extend Burlington Railroad from Chicago to Colorado Springs and to establish a home in the area known as Garden of the Gods. Charles Elliott Perkins, head of the railroad, never built tracks from Chicago but in 1879, purchased 240 acres in Garden of the Gods. While Perkins never built within the park, he extended the boundaries and dedicated the land to remain in its natural state for the public to enjoy.
Photo Credit: tonda (iStock).
Garden of the Gods plaque (Photo) Credit Mychal Stanley (flickr)
3. How Garden of the Gods remains free today to the public
Charles Elliott Perkins died in 1907 – before the Garden of the Gods was established as an official public park. Two years later, Perkins’ children recognized their father’s wish and granted 480 acres to the city of Colorado Springs to make Garden of the Gods a park. A plaque dedicated by Perkins’ children remains embedded in a spire that reads “In fulfillment of his wish that it be kept forever free to the public.”
Photo Credit: Mychal Stanley (flickr).
Garden of the Gods (Photo) Credit pilgrims49 (iStock)
4. Perkins’ wishes for Garden of the Gods remain fulfilled
Before his death, Perkins also said Garden of the Gods would remain a place “where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structure shall be erected except those necessary to probably care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park.” Today, Garden of the Gods encompasses more than 1,380 acres.
Photo Credit: pilgrims49 (iStock).
Garden of the Gods (Photo) Credit Mark Reis, The Gazette.
5. Garden of the Gods was a place of peace for tribes
Before railroad developers visited Garden of the Gods, Native American tribes frequented the site where the dramatic sandstone monoliths abruptly protruded from the ground. Various tribes, including the Ute, found the rock formations to be a sacred ground where even rival tribes could meet in peace.
Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette.
Garden of the Gods (Photo) Credit Stewart M. Green
6. Human history dates thousands of years
Evidence of human activity gives researchers prehistoric insights of the Garden of the Gods area. The Ute tribe says their ancestors have always lived in the sacred area. Signs of prehistoric life in Garden of the Gods include stone tools, pottery pieces, petroglyphs, ancient fire rings and more.
Photo Credit: Stewart M. Green.
Dinosaur species named for Garden of the Gods (Photo) Credit James St. John (flickr)
7. There is even a dinosaur species named for Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is the only known place in the world where the Theiophytalia kerri once roamed. First discovered in 1878 and thought to be “portions of 21 different sea monsters,” a 125-million-year-old skull was found in Garden of the Gods Park. Then in 1994, paleontologist O. C. Marsh identified it as a Camptosaurus. But in 2006, Dr. Ken Carpenter and Kathleen Brill wrote about irregularities in the skull compared to “Campi” attributes. Among other details, the skull was later identified as the world’s first and only known Theiophytalia kerri. “Theios” is a Greek term for “belonging to the gods” and phytalia means “garden.” See the skull at Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center today.
Photo Credit: James St. John (flickr).
Garden of the Gods (Photo) Credit Sean Pavone (iStock)
8. The rock formations are about 65 million years old
Geologists say the red sandstone rocks were pushed out the ground about 65 million years ago when the old Pacific plate rammed into the North American plate – an event that also contributes to the Front Range mountains we see today. Heavy erosion activity gave way to the towering rocks, seen at Garden of the Gods today.
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone (iStock).
Siamese Twins Garden of the Gods (Photo) Credit RondaKimbrow (iStock)
8. The rock formations are about 65 million years old (cont.)
Look out for intriguing formations like Balance Rock, Siamese Twins, and Kissing Camels, some of which reach 300 feet high.
Photo Credit: RondaKimbrow (iStock).
Iconic ‘Balanced Rock’ Garden of the Gods (Photo) Credit AndreyKrav (iStock)
Ways to discover Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods offers several ways for visitors to explore. If visiting during busy summer months, take the free shuttle to take in the views of the rocks. Segway tours, horseback rides, and guided nature walks are more ways to see and learn about the park. There are 21 miles of hiking trails to explore on your own, as well as mountain biking trails and rock climbing.
Photo Credit: AndreyKrav (iStock).
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