General Palmer and Dr. Bell founded Manitou Springs in 1872 with a purpose the town to be Scenic Health Resort. Hidden between Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak lies the magical town of Manitou Springs. "Manitou," a Native American word for "spirit," describes this beautiful mountain town. Long before white men traveled here, the Ute, Cheyenne and many other natives considered this area sacred.
The history of Manitou Springs is forever linked with the springs around which it was founded. The source of these famous waters lays deep underground in a system of cavernous aquifers. As the ancient water erodes the surrounding limestone, carbonic acid is created which gives Manitou’s springs their special effervescence. This natural carbonation forces the water back to surface through cracks in the rocks.
The town of Manitou Springs is Antique and unique gift hunters dream.