Pikes Peak Historical Society Preserving the history of Florissant and the Pikes Peak western slope

As the Civil War raged and goldfields beckoned, a gunman stalked the mountains of central Colorado on a divine mission to kill American settlers. He would elude governors and armies, bounty hunters and posses, until his demise at the climax of a fierce high country manhunt. By then, Felipe Espinosa had claimed more than thirty lives to quietly become one of the nation’s first serial killers and foreign terrorists.

The Pikes Peak Historical Society invites you to join author Adam James Jones on August 7th as he speaks about Felipe Espinosa. Jones’ debut novel, The Vendetta of Felipe Espinosa, is a sweeping historical epic and a saga of Confederate guerrillas, marauding Indians, a severe religious order, vigilante miners, and one migrant family looking for peace in a violent country.

Adam James Jones grew up in South Park, Colorado. Adam is the recipient of the 2012 Homestead Foundation Fellowship from the Western Writers of America. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Southwestern American Literature, Wild West, and Darker Times (UK). Adam lives in New Mexico with his wife, the actress Catharine Pilafas. His website is www.adamjamesjones.com

The Pikes Peak Historical Society invites you to learn more about Felipe Espinosa and the terror he unleashed on the Colorado high country on Sunday, August 7th, at their monthly Chautauqua (free program), at 2:00 pm at the Florissant Library. The Library is located adjacent to the Florissant Community Park on 334 Circle Drive in Florissant.

This program is presented as a public service of the Pikes Peak Historical Society. Admission is free and refreshments are served. No reservation is required but arrive early, seating is limited. For more information call 719-748-8259 or 719-748-3861.

The town of Florissant, in Teller County, has a rich and varied history – from the native Ute people who called the area home, to the early mountain men who traversed the area seeking furs for trade, to the pioneers who left their mark by building homes and establishing a town. Every year, the town of Florissant celebrates this legacy with the annual Heritage Day celebration held on July 30^th.

The Pikes Peak Historical Society, along with the Florissant Grange and the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, will have a variety of activities for visitors during the 2016 Heritage Day celebration. There will be a pancake breakfast to start the day at the fire station. Then throughout the day there will be portrayals of historic figures, geology and mineral discussions, tours of historic locations, a geocaching event, vendors, and numerous activities for the children. The Pikes Peak Historical Society will be hosting four locations, all with a variety of events – the PPHS Museum will host several talks, kids’ reading time in the tipi, and museum tours; at the Teacherage Museum a person can see what school was like in a one-room schoolhouse, the Florissant Library will have a variety of ‘Homesteading Arts’ displays and toy-making for the kids; and the Florissant Pioneer Cemetery will have a tour of the Civil War veterans buried there. Events will also be taking place at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and the Florissant Grange, the old School House.

The Pikes Peak Historical Society invites you to Florissant Heritage Day on Saturday, July 30^th to learn more about the town of Florissant, the surrounding area and have some fun at the same time. There will be signs to the various venues.  This program is presented as a public service of the Pikes Peak Historical Society. Admission is free. For more information call 719-748-8259 or 719-748-3861.