Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

215 S. Tejon St

Outside the main entrance to the CSPM is a statue of Katharine Lee Bates, professor from Wellesley College who taught a summer session at Colorado College in 1893. Bates recalled, “…one day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to Pikes Peak… I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse.” After returning down the mountain, Bates penned the lines to a poem that was later set to music by Samuel Ward, eventually becoming known as the anthem “America the Beautiful.” Make sure to step inside the free museum and check out the COS@150 exhibit which includes an object describing the founding of Colorado College in 1874.