Colorado Springs is a Beautiful town nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and the current City is in the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain.
The history of Colorado Springs is the history of two very different communities, one wild and rowdy, the other a model of control, wealth and power.
The area was first discovered by settlers in 1806, when Zebulon Montgomery Pike came upon a mountain he named Pikes Peak and attempted to climb it. Later, several tribes of Native Americans, namely the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne, lived in the area. They declared what is now called the Garden of the Gods to be sacred ground where the tribes could meet in peace and bathe in the mineral springs.
Mountains rich in silver and gold soon brought miners, and a settlement called El Dorado City popped up. This was renamed to Colorado City, and was a rough town full of saloons, frequent brawls and gun fights. In 1871, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, came to the region. The railroad was directed by General William Jackson Palmer, who began to plan a community near Colorado City. Palmer envisioned the town as a playground for the rich, rivaling the elegant resorts on the East Coast. First called the Fountain Colony, the town was incorporated as Colorado Springs in 1872. According to what was called "The Palmer Pattern of Responsibility," Colorado Springs was planned with schools, libraries, churches, parks, and a college. Citizens of "good moral character and strict temperance habits" were purposely sought; intemperance and industry were relegated to Colorado City across the railroad tracks.
With such organization the law was soon needed to protect the folks in Colorado Springs.
One such Lawman was Ezekiel “Mountain Hawk” Langley (1875–1890)
His claim to fame was being Known as the “Protector of Pikes Peak,” Sheriff Langley was famous for his ability to track fugitives across treacherous mountain terrain. He reportedly once followed a gang of horse thieves for 200 miles in a blizzard, bringing them back to Colorado Springs on foot after their horses gave out.
Inspired by this rich history is the Colorado Springs Marshal Badge. Made with 14 gauge Copper and double dye struck for clear and long lasting lettering. This badge comes “antiqued” but can be easily polished for a clean new look.
