Austin Bluffs, Colorado facts for kids
Austin Bluffs is a special place in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It's a hill, also called a summit, that stands about 6,673 feet (2,034 meters) high. It's also a neighborhood where people live. Long ago, it was a small settlement and even had a special hospital for people who were sick. Today, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) campus is located here. A main road in Colorado Springs is also named Austin Bluffs. This road divides the Austin Bluffs open space from Palmer Park.
Geology
The rocks at Austin Bluffs are very old! They come from different time periods. You can see layers of sandstone here. These rock layers were pushed up by big geological movements about 65 to 70 million years ago. Because of these unique rock formations, the United States Forest Service considers this area very special.
History
People have lived in the Austin Bluffs area for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found signs that Native Americans were here as early as 10,000 years ago. They used the area to find stone for making tools. There are also sites showing that Plains Indians lived here between 100 and 1,400 AD. They left behind evidence of charcoal fires. Some stone circles found here might have been used by the Ute people for special ceremonies.
In the 1870s, a railroad line ran near what is now the western edge of the university campus. In 1873, a wealthy sheep ranch owner named Henry Austin bought a large piece of land here. Austin Bluffs is named after him. He hired shepherds to care for his sheep in the 1880s. A famous photographer named Laura Gilpin was born in Austin Bluffs.
Austin Bluffs slowly became part of the city of Colorado Springs. This process started in 1888 and continued over many years. By 1890, the area had its own water system and was added to the city's trolley service. Water was brought to the area from West Monument Creek.
In 1901, a doctor named John E. White opened the Nordrach Ranch Sanatorium. This was a place where sick people could get better. Patients stayed in tents, breathed fresh air, had light exercise, and ate well. This method was based on a successful German hospital.
Around 1905, a coal mine called the Austin Bluffs Mine operated here. People also collected pretty red and brown stones like agate and carnelian in the area.
Another hospital, the Cragmor Sanatorium, also operated in Austin Bluffs in the early 1900s. This was a clinic and nursing home. In 1965, the land where this sanatorium stood was sold to the University of Colorado. This is how the University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus started. It has grown a lot since then!
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a large campus today. It has about 10,500 students and around 1,000 staff and teachers. The campus has places for students to live, a library, and a science and engineering center. Some of the old buildings, like Dwire Hall and Cragmor Hall, are still used. There's also a recreation center, sports complex, theater, and other facilities for students.
Open Space
The Austin Bluffs Open Space is a large park that covers about 584 acres. It includes Austin Bluffs, University Park, and Pulpit Rock areas. There are trails for people to walk and explore the park. This open space was created with help from different groups and the citizens of Colorado Springs.
