Why is Will Rogers Shrine in Colorado?

It exists as a dedication to Will Rogers, a famous American humorist who perished when his plane crashed during the tower’s construction in 1935. The Shrine can be reached by traveling 1.4 miles up the Russell Tutt Scenic Highway from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo entrance.

Where is Spencer Penrose buried?

Spencer Penrose

Birth 2 Nov 1865 Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death 7 Dec 1939 (aged 74) Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, USA
Burial Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun Chapel Crypt Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, USA
Memorial ID 6796236 · View Source

Can you drive to the top of Cheyenne Mountain?

It is a paved road to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. Thereafter, it is an unpaved private road to one of the peaks of the mountain, known as The Horns….

Cheyenne Mountain Highway
State Colorado
Highway system
Colorado State Highway System Interstate US State Scenic

Who built Shrine of the Sun?

Spencer and Julie Penrose, founders of El Pomar Foundation, commissioned local architect Charles E. Thomas to design the monument. Completed in 1937, the Shrine stands 114 feet high and was fashioned from Cheyenne Mountain granite quarried 700 feet away from the building site.

What is the tower above Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?

Will Rogers Shrine
Will Rogers Shrine is uniquely situated on the side of Cheyenne Mountain. Visitors should prepare for unpredictable weather conditions and bring their own water. The Shrine’s interior rooms, the chapel and restrooms are only accessible by stairs.

How did Spencer Penrose make his money?

Spencer Penrose (November 2, 1865 – December 7, 1939) was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. He made his fortune from mining, ore processing, and real estate speculation in Colorado and other parts of the West.

What is the most beautiful drive in Colorado?

Scenic Drives in Colorado

  • Mount Evans Scenic Byway. Distance: 50 miles round-trip | Time: 2 hours | Open: Summer.
  • Trail Ridge Road.
  • Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway.
  • Pikes Peak.
  • Skyline Drive in Cañon City.
  • San Juan Skyway and the Million Dollar Highway.
  • Loveland Pass.
  • Rim Rock Drive, Colorado National Monument.

Is Cheyenne Mountain part of Pikes Peak?

The mountain’s boundaries are Rock Creek, which flows from Mount Big Chief through Cheyenne Mountain to the town of Fountain, to the south and Cheyenne Cañon to the north. The western side of Cheyenne Mountain is in Pike National Forest, within the Pikes Peak Ranger District.

How tall is Will Rogers Shrine?

100 feet
It is 100 feet (30 m) tall. The shrine is partly named for the views of the rising and setting sun. Will Rogers, who died in 1935 in an airplane crash, is memorialized in images of his life displayed throughout the interior of the monument and in the name of the shrine.

What is the elevation of the Will Rogers Shrine?

The elevation of the Will Rogers Shrine is 8,136 feet on the top deck and provides breathtaking views of Colorado Springs, the Pikes Peak Region and Eastern Plains. Learn more Open 7 days*, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

How was the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun built?

Completed in 1937, the Shrine stands 114 feet high and was fashioned from Cheyenne Mountain granite quarried 700 feet away from the building site. It was constructed entirely without nails or wood, and is instead bound together by 200,000 pounds of steel and 30 wagon-loads of cement. Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun was named in a two-part tribute.

How much does it cost to go to Will Rogers Shrine?

Admission to the Shrine is free; however visitors must purchase admission to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to access the road leading to the Shrine. Will Rogers Shrine is uniquely situated on the side of Cheyenne Mountain. Visitors should prepare for unpredictable weather conditions and bring their own water.

What is the Will Rogers monument?

This historic monument is 1. 4 miles up the Russell Tutt Scenic Highway from the Zoo entrance. Built by Spencer Penrose between 1934 and 1937, it stands dedicated to Will Rogers, who died in a plane crash in 1935.