[1940s HOME MOVIE TRIP TO COLORADO LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN GARDEN OF THE GODS PIKES PEAK]

This elaborate home movie was shot by an unknown, amateur filmmaker. It probably dates to the late 1940s/early 1950s and shows a brief tour of Colorado, highlighting the area’s mountainous landscape and history. The film opens with the Colorado state flower; the Colorado Blue Columbine (:20). These flowers are seen climbing in and around rocks for sunlight (1:18). Buffalo are captured running wild (1:18) as well as corralled in Hudson Colorado (2:02). The rare catalo is a cross between cattle and buffalo (2:26). William Cody; also known as Buffalo Bill, was laid to rest in Lookout Mountain Park (2:39). Hollyhocks spring up from the Earth (2:46) in bright and light pink hues. The famed Colorado Rockies follow (3:07). At Rocky Mountain National Park (3:31) the waters divide to the east to the Atlantic and to the west to the Pacific (3:31). Grand Lake is captured in the park (3:47). The Never Summer Wilderness area houses the Never Summer Range (4:46). A car is parked on the Fall River Pass as the route travels from Grand Lake to Estes Park (4:58). A brown bear approaches a car on the dirt road (5:36). Long’s Peak in the northern Front Range of the Rockies (6:03) towers over the park. The film notes Enos Mills; the naturalist and American writer once explored the Rockies. Pink and red clouds roll in around the Rockies as evening sets in (6:35). Pikes Peak (6:55) and the Garden of the Gods (6:51) are both situated in Colorado Springs. A porcupine sprints up the gated yard of a homeowner (7:31). On Rodeo Day; riders trot around on horseback carrying American flags (7:44). Cowboys (7:49) and Native Americans parade through the area (7:57). Horses walk through the area guiding covered wagons (8:15). Bucking broncos ride through the coral (8:20) as rodeo cowboys conduct stunts (9:13). Horses are then guided over jumps without riders (10:27). The film concludes as the Brahma bull performs (10:54).