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Emma Crawford Coffin Races

Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce

October 27, 2007

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Colorado Springs just doesn't have events like this, which is why Manitou exists! The 13th Annual Emma Crawford Coffin Race and Festival will be held Saturday, October 27, 2007. Beginning on Manitou Avenue in the town's National Historic District, Emma judging will begin at 12 o'clock, noon, followed by the Parade of Hearses and Coffins and then Coffin Races up the town's main street in the shadow of Pikes Peak. Emma Crawford lived in Manitou Springs at the turn of the century, arriving with the hopes that the famous drinking Mineral Springs would help with a cure for her tuberculosis. Sadly, in the summer of 1890 Emma died quite young, just before she was to marry Mr. Hildebrand, an engineer on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Her wishes were to be laid to rest on top of Red Mountain. Her heartbroken fiance and eleven other men began the arduous task her carrying Emma's coffin up to the top of Red Mountain. It took them all day, working two shifts to scale the 7200 foot Summit. In 1929, after years of stormy weather on the granite mountain the granite gave way and Emma's remains were washed down the side of Red Mountain. Emma was later buried in the Manitou Springs Cemetery in an unmarked grave. An official grave site was granted to her in 2004 to honor her life. Now every year in late October, Manitou Springs remembers this beautiful young woman who loved her town and her Red Mountain with this unique festival.

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• Ticket Info

  Tickets: Free

• Dates & Times

  Dates:
  October 27, 2007

  Times:
  12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

• Venue Info

  Soda Springs Park

  Manitou Ave & Park St Manitou Springs, CO 80829

  Full map and directions

• Accessibility Info

• NOTE: We do our best to ensure all information is accurate, however it's a good idea to visit the website or call the venue to verify the information.