A Priceless Gift - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posted by: 
flyingmoose
N 38° 52.554 W 104° 52.878
13S E 510296 N 4303011
Located on the Central Garden Trail at the Garden of the Gods Park.
Waymark Code: WM17ABP
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 01/13/2023
Views: 0
Marker Text:
In 1879, General William Jackson Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs, convinced his friend, Charles Elliott Perkins to purchase land in Garden of the Gods. Perkins eventually bought a total of 480 spectacular acres surrounding the Gateway Rocks, paying a total of $10,473. He was the president of the Chicago, Burlington and F Quincy Railroad and lived in Iowa. He never built on his Colorado land, but he generously allowed the public to enjoy his property.
Perkins expressed his wish for the land to become a public park, but he died before arrangements could be made. Perkins' children followed their father's wishes and offered the land to the City of Colorado Springs. In late 1909, the City Council accepted the land with specific restrictions:
??The park shall be free of charge to visitors.
??The public park will be forever known as
Garden of the Gods.
??No intoxicating liquors may be manufactured or sold in the park.
??No structures be erected, except those necessary to maintain the park.
Perkins was born on November 24, 1840 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
When he was 16 years old, he moved to Burlington, Iowa.
In 1859, Perkins began working as a clerk in the railroad business.
Over the next 22 years, he worked his way up to become President of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and was a highly respected businessman.
Perkins and his wife, Edith Forbes Perkins, had 7 children.
Charles Elliott Perkins died on November 8, 1907 at the age of 67
His children carried out his wish to have Garden of the Gods become a public park.
Group or Groups Responsible for Placement:
Colorado Springs City Parks
County or City: Colorado Springs
Date Dedicated: Not listed
Check here for Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed
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