[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 130 (Monday, July 26, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E811-E812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG LAMBORN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 26, 2021

  Mr. LAMBORN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the heart of 
Colorado's Fifth Congressional District, Colorado Springs, Colorado. 
This July 31st, we celebrate 150 years since General William Jackson 
Palmer, a Civil War hero and railroad magnate, founded Colorado Springs 
in 1871.
  The region's first inhabitants were Native Americans, such as the 
Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and many others. They gathered at the base of 
Pikes Peak, known today as America's Mountain, near its abundant 
springs in what is now called Garden of the Gods Park. As they followed 
vast herds of bison, the Ute

[[Page E812]]

would camp in nearby red rock canyon and visit the bubbling mineral 
water springs we still enjoy today.
  The region lies along the extreme southwestern edge of the Louisiana 
Territory, which President Thomas Jefferson purchased in 1803. 
Following the Louisiana Purchase, explorers and settlers began to 
venture west.
  In November 1806, American explorer Zebulon Pike traveled through the 
area and was credited for ``discovering'' Pikes Peak. He and his group 
attempted to reach the summit, but they were neither dressed nor 
equipped to climb the mountain that ultimately came to bear his name.
  General William Jackson Palmer ushered in a new era of Colorado 
Springs history in 1869. During his first visit to the area, he fell in 
love with its ``most enticing scenery.'' In 1870, Palmer wrote to his 
wife: ``Could one live in constant view of these grand mountains 
without being elevated by them into a lofty plane of thought and 
purpose?''
  In the 1890s, one of the richest gold strikes in American history was 
discovered on the western slope of Pikes Peak. Almost overnight, the 
Cripple Creek Mining District grew from an isolated cattle pasture to 
the home of more than 50,000 people. As a result, by the turn of the 
19th century, Colorado Springs was called ``the city of millionaires.''
  One of these millionaires was Spencer Penrose, who made his first 
fortune in Cripple Creek. He used his vast resources to build the Pikes 
Peak and Cheyenne Mountain Highways and to establish the Cheyenne 
Mountain Zoo, Will Rogers Shrine, and The Broadmoor Hotel. In addition, 
he and his wife, Julie, created the El Pomar Foundation, which still 
generously supports many worthy causes in the Pikes Peak region and 
across Colorado.
  At the turn of the century, inspired by a trip to the summit of Pikes 
Peak, Katharine Lee Bates penned what has become our country's most 
famous poem and song, ``America the Beautiful.''
  In the 1940s, the U.S. Army opened Camp Carson, marking the beginning 
of a strong and vital military presence in the Pikes Peak region. In 
1954, the Air Force broke ground for the United States Air Force 
Academy to continue this military tradition. Today, Colorado Springs is 
home to major military installations, including Fort Carson, Peterson 
Air Force Base, the U.S. Space Command, NORAD (North American Aerospace 
Defense Command), Schriever Air Force Base, and the United States Air 
Force Academy.
  In 1978, Colorado Springs became home to the United States Olympic 
and Paralympic Committee Headquarters. In addition, over 20 National 
Olympic governing bodies, more than 50 national sport organizations, 
the Colorado Springs Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, and the 
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum reside in the Pikes Peak region.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives join me in celebrating this great city's legacy and 
rich history. Out of humble beginnings and culture-rich traditions, 
Colorado Springs has grown to be a destination location for world-class 
athletes, nature lovers, families, and adventure seekers.
  Congratulations to Colorado Springs on their 150th anniversary. May 
God Bless them, and may God Bless America

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