Colorado Springs City Hall facts for kids
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Colorado Springs City Hall
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 107 N. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Thomas MacLaren and Thomas P. Barber |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000075 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 19, 2002 |
The Colorado Springs City Hall is an important building in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It's where many of the city's leaders and offices are located. This historic building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as a special place worth preserving.
Contents
The Story of City Hall
Building a Landmark: 1904
The Colorado Springs City Hall was built in 1904. It's a two-story building designed in the Classical Revival style. This style often uses features from ancient Greek and Roman buildings, like tall columns. The building is made from strong granite stone found in Chaffee County, Colorado.
When it was planned, the City Hall was part of the "City Beautiful movement." This was a time when cities wanted to make their public spaces more beautiful and grand. A generous person named Winfield Scott Stratton donated money to buy the land for the City Hall.
Design and Features
The building was designed by two important architects, Thomas P. Barber and Thomas MacLaren. MacLaren was known as the city's top architect back then.
The City Hall has some cool features:
- It has stone columns at the front, supporting a triangular roof section called a pediment.
- Inside, there's a round area called a rotunda with a domed ceiling and stained glass windows.
- The main entrance is raised, giving the building a grand look.
- The council chambers, where city leaders meet, have fancy wood panels.
- The rotunda also has a special wall finish called scagliola, which looks like marble.
What Happened Inside?
For many years, until 1980, the City Hall was the main place for Colorado Springs' city government. It held the mayor's office, the city council chambers, and many city departments. These included the police department, water department, and offices for the city clerk, auditor, and treasurer.
Over time, some departments moved out. The police department left in 1963. In 1980, most of the city's main offices moved to a new location. However, the municipal courtrooms stayed in the City Hall. Later, in 1997, even the courtrooms moved to a different building. This left the City Hall empty for a couple of years.
A New Chapter: Renovation and Return
The City Hall got a big makeover between 1999 and 2000. It reopened in November 2001. After the renovation, the mayor's office, city council, and other important offices like the budget and city manager's offices moved back in.
During the renovation, a Statue of Liberty replica that used to be on the front lawn was removed. But don't worry, it came back on May 12, 2011!
In 2011, the mayor's job changed. It became a full-time position, taking on responsibilities that the City Manager used to have. Now, the mayor has a Chief of Staff to help them.
How City Government Works Here
City Council Meetings
The Colorado Springs City Council holds its meetings in the Council Chambers at City Hall. These important meetings usually happen on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Before these main meetings, they also have "working sessions" on the Monday prior. You can even watch these meetings online through SpringsTV Newscast!
Downtown Review Board
The Downtown Review Board also holds its meetings at City Hall. This board helps make decisions about new buildings and changes in the downtown area.
Images for kids
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Colorado Springs City Hall - William Henry Jackson photograph, prior to 1921
