Colorado Springs - Pueblo, Colorado
August 20 - I leave Colorado Springs about 9 AM heading scenic route 115 to route 50 to Pueblo, Colorado. I hoped to pass through a couple of interesting towns along the way, but it didn’t "pan out", as they say in Colorado.
Arriving in Pueblo, I drive to the Union Depot area and park directly in front of the Pueblo County Historical Society Museum. It is open, so I go in to check it out as it’s a new one for me. It’s located in an old railroad storage building and it covers the full historical record of Pueblo. One of the key thing I learned was about the massive flood of 1921 which practically flooded the entire city of Pueblo causing multi million dollars of damage and many deaths.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueblo,_Colorado
Afterwards I make a hotel reservation for the night as I'm in need for a shower, it's been a while and a comfortable bed and a break from the nightly stealthy overnight street situation.
I then wander around the Neon Alley across from Pueblo Union Station, with its great collection of old signs and then continue down Union Avenue, visiting a couple of antique shops and historical signs on buildings.
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| Old movie posters |
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| Neon signs also |
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| Advertisement signs |
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| Fire escape |
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| Weird mural |
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| Corner building on Union Avenue |
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| Attractive view of statue of "Diana the Huntress" at Pueblo Union Depot, a gift from city of Chihuahua, Mexico |
I then go to Pueblo Union Depot, it seems empty and when I try the door I am surprised that it is open. It is no longer a passenger station, but the building has always been maintained and remains very original and is a beauty. It is empty except for a a few office workers in the upstairs and a couple of shop workers, I can wander around and snoop to my hearts content.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Depot_(Pueblo,_Colorado)
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| Fabulous old woodwork reflected in the mirror |
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| The Santa Fee had great advertisement signs |
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| The Denver & Rio Grand Western and the Prospector |
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| Woodrow Wilson political sign |
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| Old Pueblo Map |
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| Beautiful woodwork and seats |
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| Signs from the past |
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| Antique truck inside the Depot |
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| The dining hall is now used for special events and as a wedding venue |
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| The old snack bar |
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| Stained glass window |
I then go to the LaQuinta Hotel to relax, the name sounds exotic, but otherwise just an average priced Hotel. It's located in the new hotel, restaurant, tourist stop and shopping area on the outer limits of Pueblo adjacent to Route 24. This area has all the chain restaurants and hotels, is very convenient for travelers, but sad that people miss the attractions in the historic downtown.
August 21 - The hotel room was great, but the breakfast was the usual mediocur, waffle maker, fake eggs, sausage, white toast, cheap cereal and weak coffee.
I leave the hotel in mid morning and drive to a well to do downtown area where I stop to look at a couple of historic mansions. As I wander around this area I come upon the beautiful Pueblo County Court House and the "Impossible Playhouse" Theater a short distance away.
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| Rosemount 37 room mansion and museum |
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| The Pueblo County Courthouse |
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| Looking straight up into the rotunda |
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| The Impossible Playhouse |
Continuing downtown, park and walk several blocks with many interesting buildings, murals and signs. There is a lot of interesting things to see, Pueblo is a most colorful, interesting city.
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| Old Pueblo Indian scene on the Firestone Tire Store |
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| Not sure what this is about ? |
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| The Thatcher Building |
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| Close up view of the artistic facade |
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| Stacy's 7th Street Station |
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| Great building that seems vacant with bear mural |
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| Love the front view |
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| Nice small park that seems to be neglected |
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| Old Kress department store, where people used to shop a few decades ago |
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| Seems to be a vibrant small group of shops |
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| It appears to be representing the flood waters of 1921 |
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| Would have been a great auto parts shop in days past |
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| A small vacant corner with a mural |
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| I truly miss that kind of art |
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| Mural door step |
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| The old town was buried during the gold rush, but archeological surveys have located many of the old houses |
It’s hard for me to comprehend how I spent about a year in Pueblo while working for NJ Transit covering the track testing of our overhauled Arrow III fleet and I never had a chance to really see the wonders in this city. This city has so much, great history, museums, a river park, beautiful architecture, lots of public art, a huge inner city canal system, free parking and Pueblo Chilli.
In the afternoon I find my way to the Arkansas River Project which has a very nice walking / biking path and is a very scenic view. The River due to its flooding history now has steep retaining walls which are covered in artistic murals in various areas.
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| Rapids on the river |
It's then beer time which takes me to the historic Coors Bar and Restaurant which has an amazing history as one of the first bars in the US to sell Coors Beer.
It's also a very popular restaurant, very crowded as I ordered their signature dish called the “Slooper”. They claim it as an original creation and it is very popular, but honestly I can’t say that it's really great. They also give you a Coors Beer is a heavy glass mug that you need two hands to hold.
Leaving the bar, I catch take a few more photos on the fly, I just can't stop !
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| Appears to be the former Steel Plant |
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| A totally covered house |
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| Pueblo Chile is up there next to Hatch Chile |
In the evening, I go for a walk on the Arkansas Riverwalk which twists and turns around several streets, I actually became a little lost finding my way back to the van. It's a good thing I have a tracking chip in the van.
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| The Riverwalk at dusk |
I'm on a downtown street for the night and the plan is to leave in the morning, but need to return to the river walk and downtown area for a while on my way out. More to come from Pueblo !
