Miramont Castle is a museum located in Manitou Springs, Colorado.[2] The Castle was originally built in 1895 as a private home for Father Jean Baptist Francolon, a French-born Catholic priest.[3][4] Located in the Manitou Springs Historic District, it is a National Register of Historic Places listing.[5]
Miramont | |
.JPG) Miramont, also known as Miramont Castle and Montcalm Castle | |
   | |
| Location | 9 Capitol Hill, Manitou Springs, Colorado |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°51′33″N 104°55′19″W / 38.85917°N 104.92194°W |
| Website | Miramont Castle |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000375 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1977[1] |
History
editFather Jean Baptiste Francolon built Miramont Castle in 1895. The house is "an eclectic estate that blends a variety of architectural styles from Byzantine to Tudor."[6] Construction was completed in 1896.[7] The castle is an architectural example of the Victorian Era. In 1976 Miramont Castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places[8] due to its significant historic heritage and architectural variety.[9][10][11]
Sisters of Mercy operated Montcalm Sanitarium at Miramont,[6] sharing the property with Francolon.[7][nb 1]
Popular folklore has it that the castle is haunted with various apparitions and unexplained phenomenon as reported by visitors and staff.[12][13]
Current
editThe house is now a Victorian-era historic house museum that is owned and operated by the Manitou Springs Historical Society. Visitors can tour 42 furnished rooms and gardens. The site also features a tea room and gift shop.
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ Welcome to Miramont Castle. Miramontcastle.org. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
- ^ "Manitou Springs castle served as a refuge for a reclusive priest". The Gazette. Docs.newsbank.com (June 10, 1990). Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
- ^ Miramont Castle Museum Archived 2009-11-24 at the Wayback Machine. Pikes-peak.com. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
- ^ National Register of Historic Places in El Paso County, Colorado. American Dreams. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
- ^ a b Best of Colorado. Big Earth Publishing. September 1, 2002. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-56579-429-0. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ a b "Holiday house tour starts ominously, ends on a happy note". The Gazette. Nl.newsbank.com (December 15, 1991). Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
- ^ NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources. Docs.newsbank.com (December 9, 1988). Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
- ^ Star Telegram: Search results. Newsbank. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "Lore Springs from Manitou Waters. (Sunday Magazine/Travel)." Denver: Rocky Mountain News. Primary Source Media. 1998. HighBeam Research. May 5, 2013
- ^ Miramont Castle. Dread Central. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
- ^ a b Dark Destinations - Miramont Castle. Thecabinet.com. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
- ^ Colorado’s Haunted Architecture – Miramont Castle. Thecoloradoarchitect.com. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
External links
edit- Miramont Castle - official site
- Wikimedia Commons category with photographs of Miramont Castle