Did You Know? — The History of Evergreen Cemetery

Evergreen Cemetery is the fifth cemetery established in Colorado Springs. Long before General Palmer set foot in what would become the Fountain Colony, a true Old West town lay to the west: Old Colorado City.

Founded in 1859, Colorado City became a vital supply hub for gold seekers traveling to the South Park gold fields. Residents of Colorado City were initially buried along the hogbacks, now the 31st Street entrance to Red Rock Canyon. However, hard clay soil made grave digging difficult, and the area's exposure to attacks from native tribes frequenting the region prompted the cemetery's relocation to a hill above the Old Colorado City Creamery.

This location proved unsuitable as well, leading to yet another move to the mesa, offering a picturesque view of Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods. This mesa cemetery became the final resting place for many early settlers, including the Robbins and Everhard boys, who were killed by Arapahoes in the late 1860s. Despite its idyllic setting, the mesa cemetery was eventually abandoned, leaving many graves undisturbed in what is now Pioneer Park. A large stone near Cenotaph Drive stands inscribed with the names of those still buried there.

When the Fountain Colony was founded in 1871, the need arose for a new burial ground. The El Paso County Cemetery was initially located near the Rio Grande Station, but as promoters emphasized the area's health benefits, a cemetery so close to town was considered undesirable. To address this, General Palmer donated 10 to 40 acres of land on the outskirts of town, nestled among towering pines at the foot of Mount Washington.

The cemetery was first named Mount Washington Cemetery, later renamed Mountain Home Cemetery, and eventually Evergreen Cemetery, honoring the beautiful pine grove surrounding it. Today, Evergreen Cemetery remains a historic and serene final resting place for Colorado Springs' earliest pioneers.

This piece is part of a new series of blogs titled "Did You Know?" from the Evergreen and Fairview Cemeteries, which aims to inform residents about the rich cultural history and some little-known-facts about Colorado Springs' two oldest, continuously-operated cemeteries.