Hello Everyone,
Imagine a museum where you can admire fire engines from the 1890's? How about an arts center which dates to 1936 and is renowned for Latin American and Native American art? Ever hear of a space museum that teaches STEM? That’s what you will find at the Lester Williams Fire Museum, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, and the Space Foundation. They’re all in Colorado Springs.
DR. LESTER WILLIAMS FIRE MUSEUM
Located at the headquarters building of the Colorado Springs Fire Operations Center, visitors will find this small but excellent museum. Before moving to Colorado Springs after World War II, Williams had been the flight surgeon on the Enola Gay (the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb) in the Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal among other decorations.
Always being interested in the fire department, Williams, served as the fire department’s physician from 1953 until 1990 without any pay or any designated responsibilities. On January 31, 1990, he was named honorary chief. He was concerned about firefighter safety and became a proponent for the use of the self-contained breathing apparatus. Williams was also a staff member at two hospitals and the president of two local professional medical societies.
He amassed a large collection of fire fighting memorabilia. It’s now on view at the museum established in 2001 by retired fire fighters.
Dominating the exhibits are the four fire engines on display. These are an 1896 hose and chemical wagon, an 1898 Metropolitan steamer, a 1926 Ahrens-Fox pumper, and a 1945 American La France pumper.
The 1896 hose and chemical wagon was purchased from the Fire Extinguishing Manufacturing Company of Chicago in 1896. It was the second of three pieces purchased by the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD). In the beginning, it was pulled by two horses. It was later motorized on a 1913 White chassis.
It remained in service until 1934. While being housed in a city barn, it was restored to its original condition as a horse drawn hose and chemical wagon. It has been on public display since 1994.
After the major fire, which destroyed much of Colorado Springs, on October 1, 1898, the CSFD took steps to purchases a steam pumper from the American Fire Engine Company of Seneca Falls, New York. The fire destroyed the depot, the first Antlers Hotels, and three lumber yards. It was so massive that fire departments from Pueblo and Denver were called to fight it. Total losses were $600,000 (1896 dollars).
The 1898 Metropolitan steamer arrived on November 11, 1898. It pumped 700 gallons of water a minute at 120 pounds of pressure per square inch and had an engine rated at 80 horsepower. Besides two separate double-acting piston pumps, it had a slide valve type of steam cylinder, a Fox sectional boiler, and a vertical water tube.
Eventually, it was only used for such special events at the annual Fire Muster and the annual Pikes Peak Rodeo Parade where a team of horses pulled it. After a stay at the Colorado Springs’ Ghost Town Museum, it was moved to the fire department museum.
Horse drawn equipment was used until 1911 when a 1910 Gramm truck pulled the steamer to fires. The last horse was sold in 1916. It took motorized vehicles five minutes to get to a fire as compared to horses which took an hour.
The 1926 Aherns-Fox Pumper, placed into service that year, was the only one of its type to serve CSFD. It could deliver 1,000 gallons per minute at 120 pounds per square inch. Its chemical tank was later replaced with a 150 gallon water tank and booster system which are on the pumper today. On its initial testing, it propelled a stream of water over the Exchange National Bank Building, a feat noted in a national fire service magazine.
It remained in first line service until May 1949 when it went into reserve status until 1951. In 1951, it was on active status until its final recall that year in December. While on reserve duty, it was called upon to pump at the fire at the Colorado Deaf and Blind School in March of 1950. After its retirement, it was displayed at various CSFD stations then restored in the early 1980's. For several years, it was on exhibit at special functions.
Visitors will also see a 1945 American La France pumper. It could pump 750 gallons of water per minute and had 150 gallon booster water tanks. It was used until 1968.
The CSFD time line, tracing events from 1871 to 1994, covers two walls. It mentions the city’s major fires, the purchase of equipment, and the events comprising the department’s growth.
Colorado Springs was founded in 1871. Starting in 1873, the city was protected by volunteer fire companies. In 1894, the first paid fire department was established after a donnybrook in 1893 at the Pikes Peak Mill building. There was a disagreement between two groups of volunteers as to whom would provide the water. The first paid fire department started with five members and now has 22 stations with 460 fire fighters.
In 1880, the city learned that the fire alarm triangle used to call volunteers wasn’t effective. It was a replaced by a 2,900 pound bell mounted in a 30-foot high tower behind the engine house. You can see this bell at the museum.
The first piece of motorized equipment was in 1903, a motorcycle. It was given to assistant chief Mike Donahue. The first purchase of an aerial ladder was in 1906. It raised seven stories. In 1914, CSFD started one of the first inspection programs in the country.
In 1976, the CSFD started sending the nearest fire company to all motor vehicle accidents. The department approved EMT training for every fire fighter. In 1978, the 911 system went into service. The first woman hired by the CSFD as a fire fighter was Ann Pettinari in 1984.
On display are early dry chemical extinguishers ranging from the tin tubes of the early 1900s to the first stored, pressured, dry multipurpose extinguishers developed in 1953. Visitors will also spot a collection of fireman’s hats made from materials ranging from leather and plastic to fiberglass and aluminum. You can tell the rank of the fire fighters by the color of their hats.
A large part of one case is the collection of masks firefighters have used. These date from before the turn of the last century. Fire fighters have their own masks now. Originally, who received them was determined by how much smoke that person could tolerate. Firemen had to ask to use them.
Firemarks are another display. They’re cast iron and brightly painted plates that hung on the side of insured homes. If there was no mark on a home, there was no fire protection. Other collections are hose nozzles, leather fire buckets, first aid kits, and fire sprinklers.
Upstairs is a horse drawn cart. The mannequin in yellow represents what fire fighters wear now. The black uniform is what they used to wear.
We had an opportunity to talk to Roy Manuszak, who is museum president. He was chief of CSFD’s districts 1, 2, and 3 between 2002 and 2006. He told us that Dalmations, known as English carriage dogs, had three purposes. They nipped at horses’ heels to keep them running to the fire. They would circle around the horses to keep other dogs away. They cleaned up the horses’ poop. Now no dogs are used since fire fighters are too busy.
He informed us that the department has four EMTS assigned to an engine since they can’t handle a cardiac case with just two people. Fire fighters work 24 hours at a time.
Manuszak told us that fire hydrants are called fire plugs. The color of the top tells how much water it handles. Blue hydrants have 2,600 gallons. Red ones have 750 gallons while black ones have so little that the city utilizes open valves.
We watched the 15-minutes Waldo Canyon Fire video. That was Colorado Springs’ largest fire until 2014. It destroyed 347 homes and killed two people. It started June 26, 2012. Departments were called from Denver, Pueblo, and Englewood. The U.S. Forest Service had between 1,100 to 1,200 fire fighters involved. It was never discovered why the fire occurred although arson was suspected. (Read several articles about it in 2012 on this site.) The Black Forest fire in 2014 leveled 348 homes and killed two people.
DETAILS:
The Dr. Lester L, Williams Fire Museum is located at 375 Printers Parkway. It is open from Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is open on weekends by appointments only. Admission is free.
COLORADO SPRINGS FINE ARTS CENTER AT COLORADO COLLEGE
General William Jackson Palmer envisioned Colorado Springs as a “Little London”, a nickname he labeled the city. He saw it as an oasis of culture. Between 1919 and 1935, artists streamed into the area because of its scenery.
Julie and Spencer Penrose, who established the Broadmoor Hotel, zoo, and Pikes Peak Highway, established the Broadmoor Art Academy (BAA). Instructors taught inside the Penrose mansion or out in the field at such places as Garden of the Gods and Monument Valley Park. It was an art school that was so prominent the New York Times commented on the school’s quality expecting a “fresh and strong school of landscape painting in the Western part of the country.”
Broadmoor Art Academy’s instructor, George Biddle, wrote to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, one of his former classmates, proposing a program for artist relief through murals. Because of this program, during the 1930's, the Works Progress Administration commissioned the school’s teachers and students to paint many murals.
The BAA wanted to expand into an entire arts district under one roof. Julie Penrose donated the land. Alice Bemis Taylor contributed $600,000 to fund the 1936 construction of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. She also donated her Southwestern art collection and 6,000 volume Americana library. Her collection was largely rooted in traditional Latin American and Native American works. A major part of her gift was Santos, depictions of saints in two and three-dimensional forms seen at the Center today. Elizabeth Sage Hare, the first president of the board of trustees, favored Modern American and European art. Both Hare's and Taylor's interests are well represented in the museum's growing collection.
The three women collaborated on the building and enlisted John Gaw Meem, an acclaimed New Mexico architect, to design it. The building combines a Pueblo structure with Southwestern, Art Deco, and Classic architectural elements. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Fine Arts Center’s collection (FAC) focuses on art produced in the Americas. It is touted as one of the country’s strongest collection of Native American, Latin American, and Hispanic American art.
Since 1936, murals have also been important to this cultural institution. On display are murals on the building’s facade, in the restaurant, lower level lounge, the courtyard and their new wing. These have been done by some of the region’s most renowned historic artists such as Boardman Robinson, Eric Bransby, and Frank Mechau.
The FAC has also collected sculpture by artists from the Americas. These can be seen at their Sculpture Garden on the corner of Dale and Cascade, the FAC Courtyard, and in their galleries.
Theater is another component of the FAC. The Fine Arts Center Theatre Company produces an annual season of musicals, comedies, and dramas in their 400-seat SaGaJi Theatre. Their 108-seat Music Room also has a full schedule of productions. The FAC also hosts concerts, film festivals, dance performances, and more. The theater hires equity and non-equity performers, directors, and technicians. The theater season runs from September through mid July. Their production school operates year round offering classes for youngsters and adults.
The Bemis School of Art provides art education classes to adults and children ages two years and up at all skill levels year round. These cover such disciplines as jewelry making to ceramics, painting, photography, and more. As of 2007, it has seven new art studios. Four times a year, it holds free “Family Adventure Days.”
The school provides outreach efforts. It provides art therapy classes for military personnel and their family. It has also assisted victims of the 2014 Black Forest Fire by helping them turn charred family treasures into art works.
In 2003, the FAC had three blockbuster art exhibitions. These featured Dale Chihuly, Andy Warhol, and Peter Max. This kicked off a $30 million capital campaign to renovate and expand FAC. A two-story, 48,000 square-foot-expansion, bringing the building to 132,286 square feet, opened in 2007. On July 1, 2017, the center became the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College.
For those who are looking for artistic gifts, jewelry, or fine art, with emphasis on Colorado talent, a visit to the Museum Shop is in order. The former theater lobby is now the gourmet restaurant Taste which is open for pre-theater dining.
SEEING THE MUSEUM
The Center holds numerous special exhibitions each year. The permanent collection is usually downstairs while six rooms upstairs have temporary exhibits. The permanent collection, of over 20,000 items, features masterworks by such American artists as Georgia O’Keeffee, John Singer Sargent, and Dale Chihuly. Look for Dale Chihuly’s chandelier in the lobby.
One exhibit we saw, which is on through until early March, was “The Art of Storytelling.” It consists of selections from FAC’s Native American and Spanish Colonial collections. It explores stories through objects such as murals, the lives of saints, commodities and trade, cultural contact, disruption, and destruction. Those who visit this display are invited to share their stories about or inspired by the objects.
The Mashburn/Marshall Tactile Gallery is a highlight. Established in 1981 by volunteers led by Mary Mashburn and Peggy Marshall, it’s purpose is to enrich the museum experience for all, particularly for those who are blind or sight-impaired. It’s based on an idea from the Gallery for the Blind in Raleigh, North Carolina at the North Carolina Museum of Art..
It’s the only gallery at the FAC where visitors are encouraged to touch the art. It has braille, large print labels, and raised counters to accommodate wheelchairs. It is always free to enter during normal museum hours.
This gallery includes more than 100 works of museum-quality sculpture in various mediums and styles. These include folk art of the Southwest, abstract pieces in bronze and glass, and realistic representations of people and animals. Others are three-dimensional sculptures, masks, and textiles. Two of the artists whose works are on display are blind.
We also saw a collection of religious icons and santos on display. One wall consisted of the works of Josè Aragon, one of the few 19th century New Mexico artists to have signed and dated his work. He was one of the most prolific and popular folk artists of the 19th century. Another was the “Black Icon” by Jean Pinaya Mota.
In a second room, we spotted sand paintings by Nelson Lewis, who is a Navajo. This same room also had extensive pottery, some jewelry, and Navajo blankets and baskets. Other artifacts were a White Mountain Apache storage basket, a Southern Plains Apache war bonnet, Zuni and Mexican pottery, and Santa Cruz Pueblo black pottery.
The Marguerite and Otto Manley Gallery had paintings and eight Audubon prints. FAC owns 30 of these numbered prints and had a big Audubon exhibit years ago. We spotted the John Singer Sargent paintings “Elsie Palmer” and “Portrait of Count Albert de Belleroche” in this room as well as several by Albert Bierstadt.
One temporary gallery upstairs was titled “Everyday Extraordinary from Rembrandt to Warhol.” It ran from June 24 to September 17. We saw three sculptures by Auguste Rodin including his “La Damne’e en Extensive.” We admired Monet’s “River at Moulin Pre’s de Giverney.” Works by Edgar Degas, Albert Sidney, Paul Cèzanne, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Marc Chagall were on view as were several etchings by Rembrandt.
DETAILS
While photographs are allowed of the permanent collection, they are not permitted of the temporary displays. Photos and videos are prohibited during the theater productions.
The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College is located at 30 West Dale Street in Colorado Springs. Its telephone number is (719) 634-5581. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's closed Mondays. Theater times vary. For more information on what is scheduled and future art exhibits, go to their web site.
Admission for the museum is adults, $10; military and seniors, $5, and students and teachers free with ID. Tickets for special events and theater vary. Free tours after paying admission are offered from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. from Tuesday through Sunday. Free days are the second Saturday and third Friday of each month.
SPACE FOUNDATION DISCOVERY CENTER
A group from Colorado Springs formed the Space Foundation in 1983. They wanted to serve as a source of information for everyone from space professionals to the general public for a better understanding and awareness of space. Today the Foundation is touted as being one of the world’s premier nonprofit organizations supporting space activities, space professionals, and education.
Its Space Foundation Discovery Center, started in 2012, is the region’s first and only space, science, and technology attraction. It’s a museum that advances STEM plus the arts (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) under the context of space’s exploration, development, and use. Its purpose is to inspire people about space.
The Center is comprised of three parts: the El Pomar Space Gallery displaying the Space Foundation’s artifact collection, the Lockheed Martin Space Education Center, and the Northrup Grumman Science Center whose highlight is Science On a Sphere®. The Center also provides classroom/laboratory facilities for pre kindergarten through college graduate level, teacher professional development, and special events and presentations for the general public.
EL POMAR SPACE GALLERY
When the museum opened, their first display was Launch to the Moon. Besides being a timeline about the space race during the 1960's, the display explores the early lunar exploration and the Soviet and American experiences connected with it. You can see a model of the Lunar Module, the space vehicle that allowed astronauts to walk on the moon. It is one quarter the actual size of the Lunar Module.
Current moon exploration is covered. Though astronauts last walked on the moon in 1972, sporadic robotic exploration has continued. It has led to the belief there is water on the moon.
A large case shows items first used in space which have been adapted to daily life. This includes helmets, special sunglasses for more eye protection, and medical kits. Carol Hively, Director of Public Relations and Team Communications, who took us through the museum, informed me that there is a Space Certification Seal, similar to the Good Housekeeping seal, that items can display when they’re marketed.
Another exhibit honors Jack Swigert, who was the astronaut on Apollo 13. It shows the highlights of his life. He was born in Denver, Colorado and died at age 51 of cancer.
At another section, scale model rockets are on display. Rockets lift objects from the ground into orbit while moving at speeds 25 times the speed of sound or at least five miles per second. The Ariane 44LP, Ariane 5, Atlas V (500 series), and Delta IV Heavy are exhibited.
Soviet and U.S. space suits can also be seen. The display includes the United States Extravehicular Mobility Unit and the Russian Sokol Space Suit-K. Those on display are not from the Apollo era but performed similar functions to those worn by astronauts who explored the moon.
The development of space foods over the years is also covered. Visitors can see examples of current space food used today. It’s a far cry from when food was originally squeezed from tubes.
The Scott Carpenter Station, on display, was built by NASA as a research and demonstration vehicle to provide an undersea analog for the isolated environment of space. It was launched in 1997 off of Key Largo, Florida. It had two missions. One tested life support systems and plant growth experiments. During its second, a 36-day mission, filmmaker James Cameron and producer Eugene Roddenberry II were among the crew members.
A model of the Huygens Probe, part of the joint ESA-NASA Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and its moon, Titan, is on view. It separated from the spacecraft on December 25, 2004 and landed January 14, 2005. It studied Titan’s atmosphere and weather.You can also see a model of the Mars Viking Lander. This program revolutionized thinking about Mars having water.
You can walk into SpaceLab, a model of the scientific laboratory used from 1983 to 1998. Built by NASA engineering, it was never flown. Finally, check out their temporary space which has such displays as space weather.
LOCKHEED MARTIN SPACE EDUCATION CENTER
This part of the Center is supported by a grant from Lockheed Martin. Its purpose is to improve education through teacher, student and community programs using space themes to improve students' interest and skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts (STEM plus arts). This is done through activities and demonstrations.
In the AGI Space Missions Simulation Laboratory, participants learn to use the same state-of-the art modeling and visualization software as space industry professionals. They use 3D printers to make all kinds of objects, some of which are on view at the Center.
At the Mars Robotics Laboratory, youngsters, ages eight and up, can run their own space vehicle using iPad tablets to complete a mission objective on a simulated Martian terrain. They can work as individuals or teams. Those who are younger have other types of hands-on activities geared to their age level at the education center.
The Center is used for field trips for all kinds of students with all levels of abilities. This includes the School for the Blind. They participate in lessons on the weather, physics, and robotics. On the web site, there are downloadable lesson plans for teachers and fun activities for families.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN SCIENCE CENTER
This part of the Center features Science On a Sphere®. Developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it’s a six-foot diameter, free-hanging plastic ball using special software, satellite imagery, and four projectors to create the images of the Earth, Sun, moons, and planets. Depictions cover such diverse subjects as the path of hurricanes and tsunamis, air traffic patterns, ocean currents and temperatures, and polar ice. It’s one of only 85 in the world and has more than 360 unique datasets.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Center offers a variety of events. Some of these are:
Family Star Parties are held the last Wednesday of the month. All outside activities are free. Telescopes are set up or you can bring your own and have assistance setting yours up. Inside, the Center does a hands-on activity you can take home and provides light refreshments.
Space After Dark nights are for adults ages 21+. Cost is $15 per person and includes a one drink voucher and admission. For $10 more, you receive a Space Foundation Discovery Center’s pint glass. The next one is January 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Tesla’s Toolbox occurs the third Saturday of every month and is appropriate for those ages 10 and up. Sample activities teach about robotics, 3D printing, holograms, and circuitry in electronics.
They have an annual art contest where youngsters (ages 3-18) from around the globe submit their art on a particular space theme. Last year, they received over 3,000 submissions. The winners receive such prizes as autographed photos from astronauts.
For details on these events and more, go to their web site.
DETAILS:
Their web site is tremendous and should be explored. Under Discover, at the El Pomar Space Gallery, you will find much more information on each exhibit.
Space Foundation Discovery Center is located at 4425 Arrowswest Drive in Colorado Springs. The telephone number is (800) 691- 4000. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, seniors 65+ and college students with I.D. $7.50, ages 5-17 $5, ages 2 to 4 $2, under age 2 free. For the military, it’s 50% off with identification.
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Imagine a museum where you can admire fire engines from the 1890's? How about an arts center which dates to 1936 and is renowned for Latin American and Native American art? Ever hear of a space museum that teaches STEM? That’s what you will find at the Lester Williams Fire Museum, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, and the Space Foundation. They’re all in Colorado Springs.
DR. LESTER WILLIAMS FIRE MUSEUM
Located at the headquarters building of the Colorado Springs Fire Operations Center, visitors will find this small but excellent museum. Before moving to Colorado Springs after World War II, Williams had been the flight surgeon on the Enola Gay (the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb) in the Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal among other decorations.
Always being interested in the fire department, Williams, served as the fire department’s physician from 1953 until 1990 without any pay or any designated responsibilities. On January 31, 1990, he was named honorary chief. He was concerned about firefighter safety and became a proponent for the use of the self-contained breathing apparatus. Williams was also a staff member at two hospitals and the president of two local professional medical societies.
He amassed a large collection of fire fighting memorabilia. It’s now on view at the museum established in 2001 by retired fire fighters.
Dominating the exhibits are the four fire engines on display. These are an 1896 hose and chemical wagon, an 1898 Metropolitan steamer, a 1926 Ahrens-Fox pumper, and a 1945 American La France pumper.
The 1896 hose and chemical wagon was purchased from the Fire Extinguishing Manufacturing Company of Chicago in 1896. It was the second of three pieces purchased by the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD). In the beginning, it was pulled by two horses. It was later motorized on a 1913 White chassis.
It remained in service until 1934. While being housed in a city barn, it was restored to its original condition as a horse drawn hose and chemical wagon. It has been on public display since 1994.
After the major fire, which destroyed much of Colorado Springs, on October 1, 1898, the CSFD took steps to purchases a steam pumper from the American Fire Engine Company of Seneca Falls, New York. The fire destroyed the depot, the first Antlers Hotels, and three lumber yards. It was so massive that fire departments from Pueblo and Denver were called to fight it. Total losses were $600,000 (1896 dollars).
The 1898 Metropolitan steamer arrived on November 11, 1898. It pumped 700 gallons of water a minute at 120 pounds of pressure per square inch and had an engine rated at 80 horsepower. Besides two separate double-acting piston pumps, it had a slide valve type of steam cylinder, a Fox sectional boiler, and a vertical water tube.
Eventually, it was only used for such special events at the annual Fire Muster and the annual Pikes Peak Rodeo Parade where a team of horses pulled it. After a stay at the Colorado Springs’ Ghost Town Museum, it was moved to the fire department museum.
Horse drawn equipment was used until 1911 when a 1910 Gramm truck pulled the steamer to fires. The last horse was sold in 1916. It took motorized vehicles five minutes to get to a fire as compared to horses which took an hour.
The 1926 Aherns-Fox Pumper, placed into service that year, was the only one of its type to serve CSFD. It could deliver 1,000 gallons per minute at 120 pounds per square inch. Its chemical tank was later replaced with a 150 gallon water tank and booster system which are on the pumper today. On its initial testing, it propelled a stream of water over the Exchange National Bank Building, a feat noted in a national fire service magazine.
It remained in first line service until May 1949 when it went into reserve status until 1951. In 1951, it was on active status until its final recall that year in December. While on reserve duty, it was called upon to pump at the fire at the Colorado Deaf and Blind School in March of 1950. After its retirement, it was displayed at various CSFD stations then restored in the early 1980's. For several years, it was on exhibit at special functions.
Visitors will also see a 1945 American La France pumper. It could pump 750 gallons of water per minute and had 150 gallon booster water tanks. It was used until 1968.
The CSFD time line, tracing events from 1871 to 1994, covers two walls. It mentions the city’s major fires, the purchase of equipment, and the events comprising the department’s growth.
Colorado Springs was founded in 1871. Starting in 1873, the city was protected by volunteer fire companies. In 1894, the first paid fire department was established after a donnybrook in 1893 at the Pikes Peak Mill building. There was a disagreement between two groups of volunteers as to whom would provide the water. The first paid fire department started with five members and now has 22 stations with 460 fire fighters.
In 1880, the city learned that the fire alarm triangle used to call volunteers wasn’t effective. It was a replaced by a 2,900 pound bell mounted in a 30-foot high tower behind the engine house. You can see this bell at the museum.
The first piece of motorized equipment was in 1903, a motorcycle. It was given to assistant chief Mike Donahue. The first purchase of an aerial ladder was in 1906. It raised seven stories. In 1914, CSFD started one of the first inspection programs in the country.
In 1976, the CSFD started sending the nearest fire company to all motor vehicle accidents. The department approved EMT training for every fire fighter. In 1978, the 911 system went into service. The first woman hired by the CSFD as a fire fighter was Ann Pettinari in 1984.
On display are early dry chemical extinguishers ranging from the tin tubes of the early 1900s to the first stored, pressured, dry multipurpose extinguishers developed in 1953. Visitors will also spot a collection of fireman’s hats made from materials ranging from leather and plastic to fiberglass and aluminum. You can tell the rank of the fire fighters by the color of their hats.
A large part of one case is the collection of masks firefighters have used. These date from before the turn of the last century. Fire fighters have their own masks now. Originally, who received them was determined by how much smoke that person could tolerate. Firemen had to ask to use them.
Firemarks are another display. They’re cast iron and brightly painted plates that hung on the side of insured homes. If there was no mark on a home, there was no fire protection. Other collections are hose nozzles, leather fire buckets, first aid kits, and fire sprinklers.
Upstairs is a horse drawn cart. The mannequin in yellow represents what fire fighters wear now. The black uniform is what they used to wear.
We had an opportunity to talk to Roy Manuszak, who is museum president. He was chief of CSFD’s districts 1, 2, and 3 between 2002 and 2006. He told us that Dalmations, known as English carriage dogs, had three purposes. They nipped at horses’ heels to keep them running to the fire. They would circle around the horses to keep other dogs away. They cleaned up the horses’ poop. Now no dogs are used since fire fighters are too busy.
He informed us that the department has four EMTS assigned to an engine since they can’t handle a cardiac case with just two people. Fire fighters work 24 hours at a time.
Manuszak told us that fire hydrants are called fire plugs. The color of the top tells how much water it handles. Blue hydrants have 2,600 gallons. Red ones have 750 gallons while black ones have so little that the city utilizes open valves.
We watched the 15-minutes Waldo Canyon Fire video. That was Colorado Springs’ largest fire until 2014. It destroyed 347 homes and killed two people. It started June 26, 2012. Departments were called from Denver, Pueblo, and Englewood. The U.S. Forest Service had between 1,100 to 1,200 fire fighters involved. It was never discovered why the fire occurred although arson was suspected. (Read several articles about it in 2012 on this site.) The Black Forest fire in 2014 leveled 348 homes and killed two people.
DETAILS:
The Dr. Lester L, Williams Fire Museum is located at 375 Printers Parkway. It is open from Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is open on weekends by appointments only. Admission is free.
COLORADO SPRINGS FINE ARTS CENTER AT COLORADO COLLEGE
General William Jackson Palmer envisioned Colorado Springs as a “Little London”, a nickname he labeled the city. He saw it as an oasis of culture. Between 1919 and 1935, artists streamed into the area because of its scenery.
Julie and Spencer Penrose, who established the Broadmoor Hotel, zoo, and Pikes Peak Highway, established the Broadmoor Art Academy (BAA). Instructors taught inside the Penrose mansion or out in the field at such places as Garden of the Gods and Monument Valley Park. It was an art school that was so prominent the New York Times commented on the school’s quality expecting a “fresh and strong school of landscape painting in the Western part of the country.”
Broadmoor Art Academy’s instructor, George Biddle, wrote to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, one of his former classmates, proposing a program for artist relief through murals. Because of this program, during the 1930's, the Works Progress Administration commissioned the school’s teachers and students to paint many murals.
The BAA wanted to expand into an entire arts district under one roof. Julie Penrose donated the land. Alice Bemis Taylor contributed $600,000 to fund the 1936 construction of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. She also donated her Southwestern art collection and 6,000 volume Americana library. Her collection was largely rooted in traditional Latin American and Native American works. A major part of her gift was Santos, depictions of saints in two and three-dimensional forms seen at the Center today. Elizabeth Sage Hare, the first president of the board of trustees, favored Modern American and European art. Both Hare's and Taylor's interests are well represented in the museum's growing collection.
The three women collaborated on the building and enlisted John Gaw Meem, an acclaimed New Mexico architect, to design it. The building combines a Pueblo structure with Southwestern, Art Deco, and Classic architectural elements. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Fine Arts Center’s collection (FAC) focuses on art produced in the Americas. It is touted as one of the country’s strongest collection of Native American, Latin American, and Hispanic American art.
Since 1936, murals have also been important to this cultural institution. On display are murals on the building’s facade, in the restaurant, lower level lounge, the courtyard and their new wing. These have been done by some of the region’s most renowned historic artists such as Boardman Robinson, Eric Bransby, and Frank Mechau.
The FAC has also collected sculpture by artists from the Americas. These can be seen at their Sculpture Garden on the corner of Dale and Cascade, the FAC Courtyard, and in their galleries.
Theater is another component of the FAC. The Fine Arts Center Theatre Company produces an annual season of musicals, comedies, and dramas in their 400-seat SaGaJi Theatre. Their 108-seat Music Room also has a full schedule of productions. The FAC also hosts concerts, film festivals, dance performances, and more. The theater hires equity and non-equity performers, directors, and technicians. The theater season runs from September through mid July. Their production school operates year round offering classes for youngsters and adults.
The Bemis School of Art provides art education classes to adults and children ages two years and up at all skill levels year round. These cover such disciplines as jewelry making to ceramics, painting, photography, and more. As of 2007, it has seven new art studios. Four times a year, it holds free “Family Adventure Days.”
The school provides outreach efforts. It provides art therapy classes for military personnel and their family. It has also assisted victims of the 2014 Black Forest Fire by helping them turn charred family treasures into art works.
In 2003, the FAC had three blockbuster art exhibitions. These featured Dale Chihuly, Andy Warhol, and Peter Max. This kicked off a $30 million capital campaign to renovate and expand FAC. A two-story, 48,000 square-foot-expansion, bringing the building to 132,286 square feet, opened in 2007. On July 1, 2017, the center became the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College.
For those who are looking for artistic gifts, jewelry, or fine art, with emphasis on Colorado talent, a visit to the Museum Shop is in order. The former theater lobby is now the gourmet restaurant Taste which is open for pre-theater dining.
SEEING THE MUSEUM
The Center holds numerous special exhibitions each year. The permanent collection is usually downstairs while six rooms upstairs have temporary exhibits. The permanent collection, of over 20,000 items, features masterworks by such American artists as Georgia O’Keeffee, John Singer Sargent, and Dale Chihuly. Look for Dale Chihuly’s chandelier in the lobby.
One exhibit we saw, which is on through until early March, was “The Art of Storytelling.” It consists of selections from FAC’s Native American and Spanish Colonial collections. It explores stories through objects such as murals, the lives of saints, commodities and trade, cultural contact, disruption, and destruction. Those who visit this display are invited to share their stories about or inspired by the objects.
The Mashburn/Marshall Tactile Gallery is a highlight. Established in 1981 by volunteers led by Mary Mashburn and Peggy Marshall, it’s purpose is to enrich the museum experience for all, particularly for those who are blind or sight-impaired. It’s based on an idea from the Gallery for the Blind in Raleigh, North Carolina at the North Carolina Museum of Art..
It’s the only gallery at the FAC where visitors are encouraged to touch the art. It has braille, large print labels, and raised counters to accommodate wheelchairs. It is always free to enter during normal museum hours.
This gallery includes more than 100 works of museum-quality sculpture in various mediums and styles. These include folk art of the Southwest, abstract pieces in bronze and glass, and realistic representations of people and animals. Others are three-dimensional sculptures, masks, and textiles. Two of the artists whose works are on display are blind.
We also saw a collection of religious icons and santos on display. One wall consisted of the works of Josè Aragon, one of the few 19th century New Mexico artists to have signed and dated his work. He was one of the most prolific and popular folk artists of the 19th century. Another was the “Black Icon” by Jean Pinaya Mota.
In a second room, we spotted sand paintings by Nelson Lewis, who is a Navajo. This same room also had extensive pottery, some jewelry, and Navajo blankets and baskets. Other artifacts were a White Mountain Apache storage basket, a Southern Plains Apache war bonnet, Zuni and Mexican pottery, and Santa Cruz Pueblo black pottery.
The Marguerite and Otto Manley Gallery had paintings and eight Audubon prints. FAC owns 30 of these numbered prints and had a big Audubon exhibit years ago. We spotted the John Singer Sargent paintings “Elsie Palmer” and “Portrait of Count Albert de Belleroche” in this room as well as several by Albert Bierstadt.
One temporary gallery upstairs was titled “Everyday Extraordinary from Rembrandt to Warhol.” It ran from June 24 to September 17. We saw three sculptures by Auguste Rodin including his “La Damne’e en Extensive.” We admired Monet’s “River at Moulin Pre’s de Giverney.” Works by Edgar Degas, Albert Sidney, Paul Cèzanne, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Marc Chagall were on view as were several etchings by Rembrandt.
DETAILS
While photographs are allowed of the permanent collection, they are not permitted of the temporary displays. Photos and videos are prohibited during the theater productions.
The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College is located at 30 West Dale Street in Colorado Springs. Its telephone number is (719) 634-5581. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's closed Mondays. Theater times vary. For more information on what is scheduled and future art exhibits, go to their web site.
Admission for the museum is adults, $10; military and seniors, $5, and students and teachers free with ID. Tickets for special events and theater vary. Free tours after paying admission are offered from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. from Tuesday through Sunday. Free days are the second Saturday and third Friday of each month.
SPACE FOUNDATION DISCOVERY CENTER
A group from Colorado Springs formed the Space Foundation in 1983. They wanted to serve as a source of information for everyone from space professionals to the general public for a better understanding and awareness of space. Today the Foundation is touted as being one of the world’s premier nonprofit organizations supporting space activities, space professionals, and education.
Its Space Foundation Discovery Center, started in 2012, is the region’s first and only space, science, and technology attraction. It’s a museum that advances STEM plus the arts (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) under the context of space’s exploration, development, and use. Its purpose is to inspire people about space.
The Center is comprised of three parts: the El Pomar Space Gallery displaying the Space Foundation’s artifact collection, the Lockheed Martin Space Education Center, and the Northrup Grumman Science Center whose highlight is Science On a Sphere®. The Center also provides classroom/laboratory facilities for pre kindergarten through college graduate level, teacher professional development, and special events and presentations for the general public.
EL POMAR SPACE GALLERY
When the museum opened, their first display was Launch to the Moon. Besides being a timeline about the space race during the 1960's, the display explores the early lunar exploration and the Soviet and American experiences connected with it. You can see a model of the Lunar Module, the space vehicle that allowed astronauts to walk on the moon. It is one quarter the actual size of the Lunar Module.
Current moon exploration is covered. Though astronauts last walked on the moon in 1972, sporadic robotic exploration has continued. It has led to the belief there is water on the moon.
A large case shows items first used in space which have been adapted to daily life. This includes helmets, special sunglasses for more eye protection, and medical kits. Carol Hively, Director of Public Relations and Team Communications, who took us through the museum, informed me that there is a Space Certification Seal, similar to the Good Housekeeping seal, that items can display when they’re marketed.
Another exhibit honors Jack Swigert, who was the astronaut on Apollo 13. It shows the highlights of his life. He was born in Denver, Colorado and died at age 51 of cancer.
At another section, scale model rockets are on display. Rockets lift objects from the ground into orbit while moving at speeds 25 times the speed of sound or at least five miles per second. The Ariane 44LP, Ariane 5, Atlas V (500 series), and Delta IV Heavy are exhibited.
Soviet and U.S. space suits can also be seen. The display includes the United States Extravehicular Mobility Unit and the Russian Sokol Space Suit-K. Those on display are not from the Apollo era but performed similar functions to those worn by astronauts who explored the moon.
The development of space foods over the years is also covered. Visitors can see examples of current space food used today. It’s a far cry from when food was originally squeezed from tubes.
The Scott Carpenter Station, on display, was built by NASA as a research and demonstration vehicle to provide an undersea analog for the isolated environment of space. It was launched in 1997 off of Key Largo, Florida. It had two missions. One tested life support systems and plant growth experiments. During its second, a 36-day mission, filmmaker James Cameron and producer Eugene Roddenberry II were among the crew members.
A model of the Huygens Probe, part of the joint ESA-NASA Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and its moon, Titan, is on view. It separated from the spacecraft on December 25, 2004 and landed January 14, 2005. It studied Titan’s atmosphere and weather.You can also see a model of the Mars Viking Lander. This program revolutionized thinking about Mars having water.
You can walk into SpaceLab, a model of the scientific laboratory used from 1983 to 1998. Built by NASA engineering, it was never flown. Finally, check out their temporary space which has such displays as space weather.
LOCKHEED MARTIN SPACE EDUCATION CENTER
This part of the Center is supported by a grant from Lockheed Martin. Its purpose is to improve education through teacher, student and community programs using space themes to improve students' interest and skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts (STEM plus arts). This is done through activities and demonstrations.
In the AGI Space Missions Simulation Laboratory, participants learn to use the same state-of-the art modeling and visualization software as space industry professionals. They use 3D printers to make all kinds of objects, some of which are on view at the Center.
At the Mars Robotics Laboratory, youngsters, ages eight and up, can run their own space vehicle using iPad tablets to complete a mission objective on a simulated Martian terrain. They can work as individuals or teams. Those who are younger have other types of hands-on activities geared to their age level at the education center.
The Center is used for field trips for all kinds of students with all levels of abilities. This includes the School for the Blind. They participate in lessons on the weather, physics, and robotics. On the web site, there are downloadable lesson plans for teachers and fun activities for families.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN SCIENCE CENTER
This part of the Center features Science On a Sphere®. Developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it’s a six-foot diameter, free-hanging plastic ball using special software, satellite imagery, and four projectors to create the images of the Earth, Sun, moons, and planets. Depictions cover such diverse subjects as the path of hurricanes and tsunamis, air traffic patterns, ocean currents and temperatures, and polar ice. It’s one of only 85 in the world and has more than 360 unique datasets.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Center offers a variety of events. Some of these are:
Family Star Parties are held the last Wednesday of the month. All outside activities are free. Telescopes are set up or you can bring your own and have assistance setting yours up. Inside, the Center does a hands-on activity you can take home and provides light refreshments.
Space After Dark nights are for adults ages 21+. Cost is $15 per person and includes a one drink voucher and admission. For $10 more, you receive a Space Foundation Discovery Center’s pint glass. The next one is January 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Tesla’s Toolbox occurs the third Saturday of every month and is appropriate for those ages 10 and up. Sample activities teach about robotics, 3D printing, holograms, and circuitry in electronics.
They have an annual art contest where youngsters (ages 3-18) from around the globe submit their art on a particular space theme. Last year, they received over 3,000 submissions. The winners receive such prizes as autographed photos from astronauts.
For details on these events and more, go to their web site.
DETAILS:
Their web site is tremendous and should be explored. Under Discover, at the El Pomar Space Gallery, you will find much more information on each exhibit.
Space Foundation Discovery Center is located at 4425 Arrowswest Drive in Colorado Springs. The telephone number is (800) 691- 4000. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, seniors 65+ and college students with I.D. $7.50, ages 5-17 $5, ages 2 to 4 $2, under age 2 free. For the military, it’s 50% off with identification.
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Dr. Lester Williams Fire Museum
1896 Hose and Chemical Wagon
1898 Metropolitan Steamer
1926 Ahrens-Fox Pumper
1880 Fire Alarm Bell
Fire Extinguishers Over the Years
Fire Fighting Dog, the Dalmation
What Firefighters Wear Today and What They Wore Then
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Mural by Eric J. Bransby in the Smith Family Gallery
One of the Many Galleries at the Center
Exhibition of Santos
"Our Lady of Sorrows" by Aragon - Paint on Wood
"Honor of the Blessed Mother" by Jean Pinaya Mota
Sand Painting "Hunch back and Yei bi Chai" by Nelson Lewis
White Mountain Apache Storage Basket
Western Art
Rodin's Sculpture and Rembrandt's Etchings
Claude Monet's "River and Mill Near Giverny"
Sculptures in the Mashburn/Marshall Tactile Gallery
"Pig" by Dennis and Nancy Brady in the Mashburn/Marshall Tactile Gallery
Front of the Space Museum
Lunar Lander
Variety of Rockets on Display
United States Extravehicular Mobility Unit
Space Lab
Russian Satellite
Mars Lab