Colorado

Shrine of the Sun

A common question I hear often from visitors to Colorado Springs is, “What is that little castle up on the mountain?” the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun does look like a little castle since it is built in a Romanesque Revival style, so I can understand why people think it is one. I encourage tourists and natives alike to visit it, since it has an interesting history as well

Continue reading…

American Hospitality, Russian Style

A few friends and I show up to a nondescript storefront on the corner of a busy intersection surrounded by food chains and major corporations. Waiting in anticipation for the store to open, we organize our reading material and discuss our plan for the day. Between the three of us, we’ll pour through several Russian-language newspapers, eat food unique to the area, talk with the shop owners and their guests,

Continue reading…

Winfield Scott Stratton: The $10 Million Man, Part 4

The More Things Change Continued from: Part 1: “A Test of Faith” Part 2: “Independence and Influence” Part 3: “A Testament to a Legacy” Winfield Scott Stratton was a man whose destiny had been shaped by dreams. From a dream as a teenager of coming to Colorado to seek gold, to the dream as a destitute carpenter and part-time prospector of the location of a fortune in gold, to the

Continue reading…

Winfield Scott Stratton: The $10 Million Man, Part 3

A Testament to a Legacy Continued from: Part 1: “A Test of Faith” Part 2: “Independence and Influence” Winfield Scott Stratton, America’s richest man and Colorado’s Mining King, was at the top of his game in 1899. The Independence Mine, the source of his sudden wealth, was producing about a million dollars a month (yes, you read that right) and Stratton had decided to do something crazy—sell it. Stratton’s life

Continue reading…

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument: Colorado’s Petrified Past

Colorado’s mountains hide many secrets, from crystal lakes to amazing rock formations. However, to a paleontologist, Colorado’s greatest secret lies just below the surface. The state has a very rich diversity of fossils, from Ice Age mastodons to Jurassic dinosaurs. In fact, the most complete Stegosaurus skeleton ever found was discovered in Morrison, Colorado, and in 1982, it became the official State Dinosaur. Fossils are what bring visitors to the

Continue reading…

A Second Set of Eyes

Before I submit anything for publication, I make a concerted effort to look over my work and ensure that my editor receives a thoroughly proofread article. I take the time to check my facts and my grammar very closely because they are open to public view. It is my job to be accurate. I edit my past articles all the time, as necessary. For instance, when I published my article “Modern

Continue reading…