Glen Eyrie facts for kids
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Glen Eyrie
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| Location | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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| Built | 1871 |
| Architect | Frederick Sterner |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000519 (original) 16000866 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 21, 1975 |
| Boundary increase | December 20, 2016 |
Glen Eyrie is a beautiful English Tudor-style castle. It was built in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer. He was the person who founded the city of Colorado Springs.
This castle was General Palmer's dream home with his wife, Mary "Queen" Mellen. It is located near Colorado Springs, close to the amazing rock formations of the Garden of the Gods.
The Palmers first lived in a large carriage house. Later, they built a 22-room house on their 800-acre estate. In 1881, they added a tower and more rooms. By 1903, the house was made to look like a stone castle, similar to those found in England.
Queen Palmer was very active in the community. When she was 21, she opened the first public school in Colorado Springs in November 1871. The Palmers had three daughters: Elsie, Dorothy, and Marjory.
In 1880, Mrs. Palmer became ill and needed to live somewhere with a lower altitude. She and her daughters moved to the East Coast and then to England. General Palmer visited them as often as he could. Sadly, Queen died on December 27, 1894, when she was 44 years old.
After Queen's death, General Palmer brought her and their daughters back to Colorado Springs. They decided to tear down their home. To honor Queen, who loved the idea of a castle, they rebuilt it. The new castle was much larger, covering 33,000 square feet.
Glen Eyrie Today: A Castle for Everyone
Glen Eyrie castle is now owned by The Navigators. It is open for people to visit and enjoy. You can take tours or attend special events there. The castle can also be rented for private groups and programs.
The castle has 17 guest rooms where visitors can stay. It also has several meeting rooms and two dining rooms. You can find 24 fireplaces throughout the castle!
Glen Eyrie had some very advanced features for its time. It had an early intercom system. It also had a special two-chimney system. A lever could direct the smoke depending on the wind, making sure it left the valley. There were even fire hose stations placed around the castle for safety.
Many fun events happen at the castle. You can enjoy English and Victorian teas during the week. Around Thanksgiving, they host special Christmas Madrigal Banquets. Glen Eyrie also offers retreats for couples, men, women, and families. You can visit their website to learn about upcoming programs.
Protecting Glen Eyrie from Floods
Glen Eyrie is located at the base of Queen's Canyon. This means it can be at risk of flash floods. This risk increased after the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire. The fire did not damage the castle itself. However, it burned away the plants in Queen's Canyon. Without plants, the ground cannot hold water as well.
To protect the castle, over a million dollars was spent on flood prevention. They built two special nets to catch debris. They also made the creek bed wider, deeper, and stronger with concrete and cinder blocks. This allows water to flow safely through the grounds, even during heavy rains.
See also
In Spanish: Glen Eyrie para niños
