Mantiou Springs

 



While walking through Manitou I couldn't help but think about the history that was associated with this place. As we walked through the park I noticed this man made stairway that was make out of stone. Even though it was man made it looked as if it was made of natural resources. Those resources took millions of years to create. The second and third thing I noticed was the sculpture of the man with the rifle and also the Native American man. When learning about the history of Manitou I learned the about the history associated with its progression as a city and the Native American influence. I can picture Native American tribes throughout Manitou chanting folkloric songs. To live in a time like that would be an amazing experience. The mixing of the cultures and in a harmonious scene would be a great sight to see. As I continued to walk through the park I noticed a sculpture of a tree that had a sculpture of a woman’s face at the top. As I looked at this sculpture I couldn’t help think about the film Pocahontas (1995) and the significance of the character Mother Willow in the film. The same way as this woman in the film held significance to the progression of the tribe, this sculpture showed the continuous significance of Native Americans to the progression of Manitou Springs. The next piece of art work I encountered was the shrine to the animal life that surrounds Manitou. This piece took me to a time where Manitou didn’t have buildings and large architectural works, but abundant animal life full of nature and natural creations. A time where you could see wild roaming animals everywhere you looked. The Cog railroad is a symbol of more progression in Manitou. As Manitou grew into a flourishing town it had to build tourist attractions that would further its popularity. The Cog railroad allowed for tourist to come and see what Manitou truly had to offer. The Stage Coach Inn represented a place a where tourist would come while visiting Manitou. Here the people would be able to enjoy an environment of luxury. Manitou seemed as if it was a vacation spot where families would come for breaks throughout the year. The final picture I took was the one of the dog who belonged to the man playing his guitar. This man had a sign that said he played for fun and that he was not homeless. This man embodied what Manitou was and still is. Manitou is a place where artist can come and express themselves. Here people are able to be who they truly are without ridicule.