Looking Back At 150 Years In Colorado Springs: Stories, Photos And More

By Andrea Chalfin, Abigail Beckman, and Mike Procell
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Abigail Beckman/KRCC News
Looking west, the overlook at Palmer Park used to reflect a bulk of the city. Most of the land at the nearly 700-acre park was donated by general William Jackson Palmer in 1902.

Colorado Springs and physical development
Senior City Planner Hannah Van Nimwegen and the physical growth of the city

Colorado Springs economic development
UCCS professor John Harner talks about economic development and identity

courtesy Pikes Peak Library District

Queen Palmer and Education
KRCC's Abigail Beckman brings us the origins of education in Colorado Springs with Brett Lobello of PPLD

Andrea Chalfin/KRCC News

Water In Colorado Springs
UCCS Professor John Harner talks about Colorado Springs' early relationship with water

Mike Procell/KRCC

Colorado Springs Flag
KRCC's Mike Procell takes a closer look at the Colorado Springs city flag with Leah Davis Witherow of the Pioneers Museum

  • The spacious white field represents the cleanliness and health of the city.
  • The blue border stands for blue skies.
  • A shield in the shape of a hexagon with a green border represents the city park system.
  • Within the hexagon, there's a mountain with sunrays behind it, which represents Pikes Peak and the city's abundant sunshine.
  • On the mountain shape, there are three gold ingots, signifying the gold found in the area, which also speaks to the city's mining history. According to Witherow, "We always say the gold was found on the west side of Pikes Peak, but the gold ran down here to Colorado Springs, where all the mine owners (and) mine stockbrokers lived."

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