Up on Cripple Creek

On Wednesday, October 8th, we headed west up Highway 24 on a scenic loop thru Woodland Park to see what we could see.

Looking southeast at Pikes Peak.

On the way to Cripple Creek we also stopped at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.  The Monument encompasses almost 6,000 acres of grassy mountain valley located on highway 1 just south of Florissant, Colorado.

The Monument is famous for the abundant and well preserved insect, plant and small animal fossils located in its mudstone and shale deposits.

Fossils removed from Florissant's Fossil beds.

There is a large diversity of plants that occur in the beds, ranging from microscopic pollen to petrified Sequoia Redwood stumps.  Several examples of the petrified stumps are unearthed for viewing.

Petrified Sequoia stump near visitor center.

Petrified Sequoia stump on hiking trail.

Leaving Florissant we were again treated to Colorado's finest fall colors as we continued our journey to Cripple Creek.



Highway 1 between Florissant and Cripple Creek.

Cripple Creek, a former gold mining town, is located 44 miles southwest of Colorado Springs near the base of Pikes Peak. 

Bennett Avenue, Cripple Creek, Colorado.



Cripple Creek, Colorado elevation 9,494 feet above sea level.

 

 

Though gold mining is still underway in Cripple Creek, its main business is now tourism. 

Flatlander tourists in Cripple Creek.

Though Cripple Creek boasts 13 casino hotels, the focus of our visit was the District Museum.


Since 1953, the Cripple Creek District Museum has worked to preserve the history of Cripple Creek.

Historic train depot Cripple Creek, Colorado.

Antique telephone switchboard.

The parlor upstairs in the train depot building.

The kitchen upstairs in the train depot building.

In addition to hundreds of exhibits in the museum's two main buildings, several historic buildings are on display on the grounds.

Miner's cabin, Cripple Creek, Colorado.

Surprised miner!!

Back in the old days donkeys were widely used in the local mines and many were set free once they were no longer needed.  Today the local herd is believed to be made up of several direct descendants of the liberated donkeys, and a bronze statue stands outside of the museum in their honor. 

Can you spot the two asses in this pic?