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Historical
Features
The
Hot Springs Pool
The
healing powers of the hot springs in and around Glenwood had long
been known and used by the Ute Indians, but it wasn’t until
Captain Richard Sopris discovered the springs in 1860 that the
town began to take root. Originally named Grand Springs, it attracted
the attention of Isaac Cooper who first dreamed of turning the
area into a health spa. In 1882, he formally settled the town
of Defiance and two years later, changed the name to Glenwood
Springs. It immediately was established as a premier resort destination
and through the years has survived the taming of the west, two
World Wars, fires, floods and even a train derailment. Anyone
who visits Glenwood Springs today will agree, she’s aged
gracefully!
 Hotel
Colorado
“The Silver Queen on Iron Mountain”
opened its doors in 1893. Aside from the many celebrities who
have graced its halls over the years, both President Taft and
Theodore Roosevelt stayed here during their presidencies, prompting
the Hotel Colorado’s nickname, “The Little White House
of the West." In fact, it’s believed that that this
grand old hotel is the birthplace of the teddy bear.
 Doc
Holliday’s Grave
Notorious gambler and gunfighter, John “Doc”
Holliday came to Glenwood Springs shortly after the famed shootout
at the OK Corral. Suffering from tuberculosis, he sought the healing
waters of the Glenwood Hot Springs in May 1887. Ultimately though,
he succumbed to the disease and died in November of that same
year. A trip to Glenwood Springs would not be complete without
a visit to the famous gunslinger’s grave site at Pioneer
Cemetery.
 Annual
Strawberry Days Celebration
Now the oldest civic festival in Colorado,
Strawberry Days began as a harvest festival in 1898. Hosted annually
the third full weekend in June, this festival includes a rodeo,
parade, live entertainment, arts and crafts fair, food, crowning
of Miss Strawberry Days scholarship winner and a carnival.
 Hotel
Denver
One of the richest historical spots in Glenwood
Springs, the Hotel Denver was started in 1914 by two gentlemen
-- Henry Bosco who built the Star Hotel and Art Kendrick who opened
a second-rate rooming house called the Denver Rooms (to promote
Denver clientele). In 1921, when Prohibition dealt a devastating
blow to the saloon and red-light district, the two bought up property
and added to their hotels until they were adjoining. The two hotels
were combined in 1938 to become what we now know as the Hotel
Denver. Among its unique features are a hand-crafted mother-of-pearl
inlayed train picture of which only 50 are believed to have been
made. Of the few still known to exist, one resides in the Smithsonian.
The Hotel Denver also served as the temporary home to legendary
Chicago gangster, Diamond Jack.
For
more historical information, please contact:
The Frontier Historical Society and Museum
1001 Colorado Ave.
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(970) 945-4448
e-mail: history@rof.net
www.glenwoodhistory.com
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