By Joy Li ’18
Looking for an excuse to explore campus this summer? Treat yourself to the CC Historic Walking Tour and take a trip through time, learning about the historic significance of your favorite CC buildings.
“It’s a chance to share the interesting histories associated with the heritage of our historic buildings,” says George Eckhardt, campus planner, who helped apply for state historical fund grants and gathered historic research on many of CC’s buildings.
Start the west-loop tour at the oldest building on campus, Cutler Hall, and admire its collegiate gothic style. Try to imagine Cutler being the only building on campus, housing all college functions. Behind the Worner Campus Center is Cossitt Hall, the “Rastall” for CC students until 1956, and then the gym until 1970. Famous choreographer Hanya Holm taught dance classes in Cossitt gym for 43 summers, beginning in 1941. Pass by Bemis, McGregor, and Montgomery, which served as the female dormitories in the early 1900s.
Then follow the tour to Ticknor Hall, which served as a military training base for radio operators during World War I. Next, proceed to Haskell House, formally known as Rice House, and where you can enjoy one of the best examples of Colonial Revival style in the city, designed in 1927 by Thomas Barber, co-designer of Colorado Springs City Hall. Finally, end the west-loop tour at 112-year-old Palmer Hall. This Romanesque Revival building stands in the center of campus and would’ve been replaced by a railway if the college and the City of Colorado Springs hadn’t strongly opposed the idea.
If you have only limited time, venture out on the east-loop tour, featuring Palmer Hall, Arthur, Jackson, and Lennox (Glass) Houses, Shove Memorial Chapel, and the Spencer Center.
It would be good to have included the two lovely old building that were demolished when Armstrong was placed on that site/
It would be good to include the two lovely old buildings that were demolished when Armstrong was place on that site.