Historic Map - Colorado Springs, CO - 1909

View of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, C.O., 1909 / drawn & published by Benford-Bryan Pub. Co.

This bird’s-eye view print of Colorado Springs, Colorado and vicinity was drawn and published by Benford-Bryan Publishing Co. in 1909. “This drawing was produced by the Benford-Bryan Co., Inc., 1732 Glenarm Street, Denver, Colorado. (Either style, Pocket Folder or Wall Map, 25 cents; by mail 30 cents.”)

Colorado Springs was established at the base of Pike’s Peak along Fountain Creek in the early 1870's. Colorado Springs, along with Colorado City and Manitou Springs became well known for their medicinal spring water, which attracted many visitors in the early 1900's. The waters were rumored to cure tuberculosis, but many developed a “Colorado Stain” from the spring water and in 1909, Colorado Springs doctor Frederick McKay found that by adding a little fluoride to the water that it could prevent cavities.

The community of Colorado City was established during earlier gold rush days as a valuable mining supply town. Manitou Springs maintains as the trail gateway to Pike’s Peak. In 1891, when a major gold strike was discovered at nearby Cripple Creek, Colorado Springs benefited greatly as the town filled with speculators and miners. The discovery was made, near Victor, by Colorado Springs carpenter Winfield Scott Stratton, who rewarded his town generously with donations of land and community improvements.

The map, looking west, shows Colorado Springs and many of its labeled buildings and railroad routes, Colorado City beyond, and Manitou Springs and Pike’s Peak in the distance. Referring to the street numbering system, the map states: “In Colorado Springs streets running north and south are numbered each way from Pike’s Peak Avenue. Streets running east and west are numbered each way from Cascade Avenue, 100 numbers to the block. In Colorado City the numbers run northeast and southwest from Colorado Avenue. On streets running northwest and southeast the numbers are regulated by the numerical cross streets, 100 numbers to the block.”

Number and Letter Coded References:

• Pike’s Peak.
• Garden of the Gods.
• Stratton Park.
• Cheyenne Mountain.
• The Seven Falls.
• North Cheyenne Canon.
• South Cheyenne Canon.
• Chautauqua Grounds.
• State School for the Deaf and Blind.
• National Deaconess’ Sanitarium.
• St. Francis Hospital.
• Antlers Hotel and Grounds.
• Colorado College.
• El Paso County Court House.
• City Hall.
• El Paso Club.
• Post Office.
• County Poor Farm.
• Elks’ Club House.
• Colorado Springs Public Library.
• Acacia Hotel. North Tejon and East Platte Sts.
• Alamo Hotel. Cor. Tejon and Cucharras Sts.
• Alta Vista Hotel. 112-120 North Cascade St.
• Antlers Hotel. Cascade and Pike’s Peak Ave.
• The New Elk Hotel. 118 East Pike’s Peak Ave.
• Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe R. R. Station.
• Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific R. R. Station.
• Colorado and Southern R. R. Station.
• Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek Short Line R. R. Station.
• Colorado Midland R. R. Station.
• Denver and Rio Grande R. R. Station.