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Updated: 18-Aug-2003 16:56 NATO Ministerial Meetings

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Courtesy of the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau

Colorado Springs Fact Sheet

Information from the Host Country

History:

General William Jackson Palmer founded Colorado Springs in 1871, thinking that its beautiful setting and mild climate would attract settlers.

Within a few years, Colorado Springs' reputation for sophistication earned it the nicknames “Athens of the Plains”, and “Little London”.

Colorado Springs is near Cripple Creek, the town made famous by the 1890s gold rush, when settlers flocked to the West to look for gold.

Colorado Springs is the second largest city in Colorado.

The first inhabitants of the Colorado Springs area were Native Americans from the Ute, Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Arapahoe tribes.

Military Facts:

Colorado Springs has five military installations, which include Peterson Air Force Base, Fort Carson, Schriever Air Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, and the United States Air Force Academy.

Colorado Springs is known as the nation's “military space capital.”

The military is the largest employer in Colorado Springs.

Natural Landmarks:

Nearby mountain Pike's Peak is called “America's mountain,” and inspired a beloved national song, America the Beautiful, in 1893.

Garden of the Gods Park, the crown jewel of the area's park system, features stunning red sandstone rock formations, which include a shape that looks like two camels kissing.

Just 10 minutes from Colorado Springs, at beautiful Seven Falls, crystal water cascades 181 feet in seven distinct steps down a solid cliff of Pike's Peak granite.

Fun Facts:

The Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, the only heritage center in the world that is dedicated to America's first original sport - the rodeo - is in Colorado Springs.

The U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs is the headquarters for the U.S. Olympic Committee administration and the Olympic Training Center programs.

The Broadmoor:

Colorado Springs is home to The Broadmoor, the grandest resort in the West, established by entrepreneur Spencer Penrose in the 1920s.

The Broadmoor's elaborate exterior detailing, including frescoes on the facade, were designed in Italian Renaissance style.

One of the Broadmoor's many nicknames is the “Riviera of the Rockies.

The Broadmoor underwent a complete renovation in 2002, enhancing its original luxury with modern conveniences.

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