 |
| View west from Lookout Mountain trail |
Lookout Mountain Nature Center (LMNC) is part of the
Jefferson County Open Space and Parks program and sits on 110 acres of
ponderosa pine forest and meadow. The land was a generous gift from the
Boettcher family to Jefferson County, and the Boettcher Mansion, the family’s summer
home, still stands on the site. The mansion, built in 1917, is on the National
Register of Historic Places and makes a great venue for social or business
events.
LMNC sits near the mansion and is a gorgeous building. Built of pine trees and locally quarried stone, the center boasts green architectural practices. The floors were built from recycled train box cars, the bathroom tiles from used windshield glass and the decking from plastic pop bottles and sawdust. The taxidermy displays feature the “locals” such as the black bear, mountain lion and mule deer lurking amidst other native species such as an Abert’s Squirrel, Ponderosa Pine, and raccoon. At one point a child commented about the display showing a mountain lion coming up behind a mule deer, “Well, that is not going to end well.” It was evident that the display was successfully telling a story about nature. But wait, there is more.
LMNC sits near the mansion and is a gorgeous building. Built of pine trees and locally quarried stone, the center boasts green architectural practices. The floors were built from recycled train box cars, the bathroom tiles from used windshield glass and the decking from plastic pop bottles and sawdust. The taxidermy displays feature the “locals” such as the black bear, mountain lion and mule deer lurking amidst other native species such as an Abert’s Squirrel, Ponderosa Pine, and raccoon. At one point a child commented about the display showing a mountain lion coming up behind a mule deer, “Well, that is not going to end well.” It was evident that the display was successfully telling a story about nature. But wait, there is more.
There is a cozy children’s discovery corner, a windowed
observation room, and nature-inspired educational gifts. Hovering about the ceiling of the center is a myriad
of local and migratory birds – each one hand carved of wood and with bird calls
coming mysteriously from all corners of the center. On one wall a flat screen TV displays video clips
of the local animals caught on camera and photographed at night with an
infrared motion sensor camera. It was
amazing to view black bear, elk, deer, red fox, coyote, and the elusive mountain
lion doing what they do when humans are
not about. The best part was getting
outdoors and walking the trails (Forest Loop and Meadow Loop); this is a where
one can breathe the pine-scented air and perhaps see a glimpse of wildlife. It
was here we kicked up, quite to our surprise, a dozen deer that were bedded
down under the Ponderosa Pines. See photo below.
 | ||||||
| Mule Deer on the Forest Loop Trail, LMNC |
 |
| The grave site of Buffalo Bill and Louisa |
Getting There:
Lookout Mountain Nature Center/Preserve 910 Colorow Road, Golden CO 80401- is just minutes off I-70. Westbound, take exit 256 and turn right. Eastbound, use exit 254 and turn left. Then follow the brown highway signs. Also you can drive via Golden on the Scenic Lariat Loop Byway!
Down the hill a ways from the LMNC is the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, which is part of the Denver Mountain Parks System. From the observation deck (located directly east of the parking lot) one can view the city of Denver, which appears so small and is swallowed up by the enormous expanse of the Great Plains. It is rumored that on a clear day you can see four states. This vantage point in the foothills was one of Col. Wm. F. Cody’s favorite places and the reason he requested burial here. The setting is glorious, and a short walk up a trail takes the visitor to his grave site. Here Buffalo Bill rests next to his wife, Louisa, and the grave site commands the surrounding area. The gift shop is stocked with great educational toys and books, tourist goodies, and many Wild West trinkets. One can even nosh on a buffalo burger in the café.
Prepare yourself with plenty of time for the grand tour of Col. Wm. F. Cody’s life displayed in the museum. The enormous painting which consumes the entry wall down to the museum - Buffalo Bill on Horseback - is breathtaking. It took the French painter, Robert Lindneux, a full five years to complete the work. Lindneux met Buffalo Bill in Paris while the Wild West Show was touring Europe, and he was inspired by the show to visit the real western United States.
 |
| Robert Lindneux painting of Buffalo Bill on Horseback - Buffalo Bill Museum |
Throughout the museum the displays and colorful artistic
posters read like a giant history book. One of the “aha” moments I had, while
drinking in Buffalo Bill’s life history, was that he definitely evolved and
grew from his experiences. He went from
buffalo hunter to becoming a preserver of the buffalo herd; from fighting the Native
Americans to employing them in the Wild West Show and getting them off the
reservation, traveling the world, and sharing their culture so many more would
have a better regard and understanding.
Bumble and Buffalo Bill Cody share the same birth date of
February 26, what a coincidence!
 |
| Tribute to Sitting Bull - Buffalo Bill Museum |
Getting there:
Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave 987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Road, Golden, CO 80401
Take I-70 W. to exit 256. Turn right at the top of the ramp, and then an immediate left. Follow this to Lookout Mountain Road. Turn right and travel approximately 4 miles. The Museum will be on your left following an open park and picnic area. Or from Golden -Take 19th Street west, toward the mountains. This will turn into the Lariat Loop Historic Byway. Follow this to the top of the mountain. The Museum is the first possible right driveway at the top of the hill.
Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave 987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Road, Golden, CO 80401
Take I-70 W. to exit 256. Turn right at the top of the ramp, and then an immediate left. Follow this to Lookout Mountain Road. Turn right and travel approximately 4 miles. The Museum will be on your left following an open park and picnic area. Or from Golden -Take 19th Street west, toward the mountains. This will turn into the Lariat Loop Historic Byway. Follow this to the top of the mountain. The Museum is the first possible right driveway at the top of the hill.
References
http://www.buffalobill.org/
I want to live in the old wild west! Love your blog!
ReplyDelete