Downtown in Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Katherine Lee Bates
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 3, 2024
1. Katherine Lee Bates Marker
Author of "America the Beautiful"
Katherine Lee Bates (1859-1929) wrote the original version of this beloved anthem in 1895 during a stay in Colorado Springs. A brief trip to the 14,110 foot summit of Pike's Peak provided the inspiration for her words, which were set to music two decades later. A native of Falmouth, MA., Bates was a noted author and enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a teacher and administrator at Wellesley College.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 38° 49.824′ N, 104° 49.393′ W. Marker is in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from South Tejon Street near East Vermijo Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Location is the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 215 S Tejon Street, Colorado Springs CO 80903, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range and in Pikes Peak Region. It is also in the American Mountain
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Brief Outline of Colorado Skiing (within shouting distance of this marker); Dominico (Nick) T. Venetucci (within shouting distance of this marker); William Seymour 1843-1920 (within shouting distance of this marker); Zebulon Montgomery Pike (within shouting distance of this marker); On This Spot (approx. 0.2 miles away); Spencer Penrose (approx. Ό mile away); Hank (approx. Ό mile away); Colorado Springs Post Office and Federal Courthouse (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Colorado Springs.
More about this marker. Marker is near the Bates statue in front of the West facing steps. Facing the statue, the marker is in the front left of the planter
Regarding Katherine Lee Bates. When visiting the marker, be sure to go the rear of the statue, which looks towards Pike's Peak, the place that inspired the poem "America
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 3, 2024
2. Katherine Lee Bates Marker and Statue
Also see . . . America the Beautiful (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: "America the Beautiful" is a patriotic American song. Its lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and its music was composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey. The two never met.(Submitted on July 6, 2024.)
Bates wrote the words as a poem, originally titled "Pikes Peak". It was first published in the Fourth of July 1895 edition of the church periodical, The Congregationalist. At that time, the poem was titled "America".
Ward had initially composed the song's melody in 1882 to accompany lyrics to "Materna", basis of the hymn, "O Mother dear, Jerusalem", though the hymn was not first published until 1892. The combination of Ward's melody and Bates's poem was first entitled "America the Beautiful" in 1910
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 4, 2024
3. Katherine Lee Bates Statue
in front of the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 4, 2024
4. Katherine Lee Bates Statue
looking in the direction of Pike's Peak
Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 345 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 4, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
