Pikes Peak Historical Society Museum.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society Museum offers visitors an entertaining and educational tour of the Pikes Peak region, from early explorers to Ute Indians and Mountain Men to the early pioneers, railroad, and gold rush.  Unique rocks, minerals, and fossils from the Florissant Lineament are included among the exhibits.  This museum, located at 18033 Teller County Road #1 in Florissant (across from the Post Office) offers one of the most comprehensive educational tours of the Pikes Peak region to be found in the Pikes Peak region.  Its collection of minerals and gems is one of the most comprehensive in Colorado outside of Denver.

Annual Return of the Ute Indians.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society initiated a partnership with the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds, Catamount Institute, and the Center for Creative Leadership to create a working relationship with the Ute Indian Nation.  Under the sponsorship of the Pikes Peak Historical Society, members of the Ute Nation have been brought to the Pikes Peak area for the last five years, housed at Catamount Institute.  The Ute Nation, with the PPHS, conducted cultural outreach at the Fossil Beds and at the Garden of the Gods.

Preservation of Ute Battlefield.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society also plans to acquire an historic Ute battlefield, just outside of Florissant, to be used as a community park.  Pinnacle Designs has donated the architectural drawings for converting this to an historic park.

Informational Kiosk for Gold Belt National Byway.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society built a $67,000 informational kiosk at the eastern edge of Florissant with only $10,000 in grant money and the remainder from donated labor and materials.  This kiosk marks Florissant at the northern gateway for the Gold Belt National Historic Byway.  It has been given the status of the Number 1 interpretive kiosk in the state of Colorado.

Restoration of 1887 Florissant Schoolhouse.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society completely restored the 1887 Schoolhouse (now owned by the Grange).  This project was valued at $160,000 and included building an addition for the bathrooms, renovating the kitchen area, restoring all of the wood floors and wainscoting, repainting, and installing new light fixtures.  The Society accomplished this with only $23,000 in grant money, and the remainder in donated labor and materials.

Restoration of 1880s Teacherage as Museum.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society returned the 1800’s teacher’s residence from Woodland Park to its original foundation next to the schoolhouse, and completely restored the building which is now houses the Society’s Florissant Heritage Museum.  This project is valued at over $40,000, and was accomplished entirely with donations of labor, money, and materials.

Installation of “Florissant” Sandstone Signs.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society purchased and installed the large sandstone “Florissant” signs at the east, west, and south entrances to the town of Florissant.  This project is valued at $36,000 and was accomplished entirely with donations of labor, money and materials from the community.  

Management of Historic Florissant Cemetery.  For the past ten years, the Pikes Peak Historical Society has managed the Florissant Cemetery on behalf of  Teller County.

FLORISSANT PIONEER CEMETERY

Established ca. 1874

The Florissant Pioneer Cemetery is located at 634 County Road #421 (Upper Twin Rocks Road) in Florissant, Colorado.

Florissant began as a Ute Trading Post built by Judge James Castello in June, 1870.  In 1872, Judge Castello applied for an official post office which he named “Florissant” for his hometown in Missouri.  Hundreds of pioneers flooded into the area, but were unable to file for legal title to homesteads until a survey of the Pikes Peak region was published in 1876.  Nonetheless, the ebb and flow of life continued.  Numerous graves, many with simple wooden markers, began to dot the hillsides of this peaceful little valley before you.  The earliest burial is probably that of a child who died in 1874, but there are numerous un-marked graves with unknown dates.

On August 27, 1886, Frank F. Castello (son of James) and his neighbors John Wilson and Valentine Hamman applied to El Paso County (Teller County was carved out of El Paso County 1899) for a “Florissant Cemetery Association.” Frank Castello and John Wilson are named as the Trustees.  In November 1900, Frank Castello applied to have only himself named Trustee of the Florissant Cemetery Association.  The record is vague after this date, and the cemetery fell into disrepair.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society began voluntary maintenance in 1988.  In March, 1992, the District Court in Teller County named the Pikes Peak Historical Society as Trustee of the Cemetery. (Florissant Heritage Foundation was renamed Pikes Peak Historical Society in 2001.)

When you visit our Pioneer Cemetery, remember that you are walking on hollowed ground.  Please treat it as such.  The Pikes Peak Historical Society offers a $500 reward for information on any vandals.