Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chambers Ranch
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3105 Gateway Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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| Area | 226 acres (0.91 km2) |
| Built | 1875 |
| Architect | Robert Chambers, Thomas MacLaren |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival, Other, Western Stick |
| Website | http://rockledgeranch.com |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000599 |
| Added to NRHP | November 29, 1979 |
Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site is a special place in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where you can step back in time! It's like a "living history museum" and a farm all in one. This means people dressed in old-fashioned clothes show you what life was like long ago. They teach about the Pikes Peak area from 1775 all the way to 1910.
At Rock Ledge Ranch, you can explore six different historical spots:
- An area showing how Native Americans lived between 1775 and 1835.
- An 1860s cabin where early settlers lived.
- A garden from the 1880s.
- The Rock Ledge House, built in 1874.
- A blacksmith shop from the 1890s.
- A fancy country home from 1907.
Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the Past at the Museum
At Rock Ledge Ranch, museum guides wear clothes from different time periods. They show you what daily life was like for people who lived here long ago. You can see and even join in activities to learn about:
- What people wore.
- How they prepared and cooked meals.
- How they cleaned their homes and did laundry.
- What games and entertainment they enjoyed.
- How they earned a living.
Animals and Activities
The ranch has a working 19th-century blacksmith shop. You can also see a barn, horses, and chickens. Sheep and a cow graze around the farm, just like they would have in the past. The people who work there show you how things were done and let you try some activities too! More than 100,000 people visit the museum every year.
Supporting the Ranch
A few years ago, around 2009, the ranch faced some money problems. But the community really stepped up to help! People worked hard to raise money and show their support. Because of this, the ranch found new ways for visitors to enjoy the site. They started hosting fun events like "Fiddles, Vittles, and Vino" and even a Shakespeare festival.
Admission Cost
In 2023, it cost USD$8 for adults to visit. For kids aged 3 to 17, the admission was USD$4.
