So while in Colorado Springs, we had to see the sights.
The Air Force Academy. After Pike's Peak, it's one of the first tourist destinations people think of when they think of Colorado Springs.
I love the symbolism in older or larger churches. Part of why I love visiting cathedrals. This one had its share as well. Not as much religious symbolism in the overall building, since several faiths are served by the one building, but symbolism nonetheless. The building uses a lot of aluminum, like the large cross in the Protestant Chapel. The aluminum is meant to reference planes (Air Force Academy, after all). And the backs of the pews have a strip of
aluminum similar to the edge of a fighter plane wing. The ends of the pews in the Protestant Chapel too, which are sculpted to resemble old airplane propellers. There are more specific examples in each of the individual chapel rooms, making it a very interesting building to visit.
Oh, and in the Catholic chapel there? A statue built on a computer reconstruction from the shroud of Turin. I couldn't get a picture of the statue itself, being in the chapel, but there's a view of the finished statue in the description below. The display outside the room went into how they reconstructed the 3-D image from the shroud. It was really cool!
Back into Downtown, a more unusual stop we made was the Money Museum, home of the American Numismatic Association. C'mon - you knew we'd have some geeky museum stops too! This one had some interesting exhibits, really, especially for someone who's collected coins for years. They have a large permanent exhibit on the History of Money (yes, they have one of those giant rock coins) and the temporary exhibit was on money in the Civil War. And did you know there is a Numismatist Hall of Fame?
Oh, and in the Catholic chapel there? A statue built on a computer reconstruction from the shroud of Turin. I couldn't get a picture of the statue itself, being in the chapel, but there's a view of the finished statue in the description below. The display outside the room went into how they reconstructed the 3-D image from the shroud. It was really cool!
Back into Downtown, a more unusual stop we made was the Money Museum, home of the American Numismatic Association. C'mon - you knew we'd have some geeky museum stops too! This one had some interesting exhibits, really, especially for someone who's collected coins for years. They have a large permanent exhibit on the History of Money (yes, they have one of those giant rock coins) and the temporary exhibit was on money in the Civil War. And did you know there is a Numismatist Hall of Fame?
The last real "sight" in town were the trail runs we took. Colorado Springs is a brilliant place to live if you like being active and outdoors. Besides the trails in the mountains just outside town, there are hiking and biking trails running all over the city. Our friends live under a quarter mile from one of these, so several times during our stay we went out for a run to enjoy them.
With the hills in Colorado Springs, it's very easy to get up above the rooftops (or a lot of them, at least) and it gives you a great view. Running at dusk meant that we got both gorgeous sunsets and wildlife coming out. Kinda crazy turning a corner and seeing 9 deer just having dinner during your evening run!
After visiting my in-laws who live near a park and visiting our friends here, I have to say that having easy access to running trails is VERY high on my list of things to look for when we move next!
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