A quick history lesson.

The Pike's Peak region was first inhabited by native Ute, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Araphaoe, who held summer tribal gatherings at the sacred ground now called Garden of the Gods Park . Zebulon Pike wandered into the area around 1806 and discovered the mountain that bears his name.

In 1870, Civil War General William Jackson Palmer came west and became one of the first master-plan developers - laying out plans for streets, parks, churches and schools. Palmer also founded the Denver and Rio Grande Railroads.

The 1890 Colorado Gold Rush brought miners. By the turn of the 19th century, Colorado Springs was the leading mining exchange center in the world and home to 35 of the nation's 100 millionaires. The dry, mild and sunny climate also attracted tuberculosis patients and a number of sanitariums were built during the early 1900s.

In the 1940s, the Fort Carson Army installation was built, the first of what would become a strong military presence in the area. Today, Colorado Springs is home to the US Olympic Team, University of Colorado Colorado Springs , Peterson Air Force Base, NORAD, Schriever Air Force Base, the US Air Force Academy and US Space Command. The military is the largest employer in the area, with the tourism industry a close second.

In just 10 years, downtown Colorado Springs has gone from sleepy to eyes-wide-open energized - without losing a bit of its small-town, glad-to-meet-you charm.

Today, this evolving community offers residents and visitors dozens of one-of-a-kind locally owned shops and eateries along pedestrian-friendly tree-lined streets. Lots of trees, in fact. For the 27th consecutive year, Colorado Springs has been a Tree City USA designee. Take a walk and you'll find public art, historical homes, museums, theaters, galleries and antique shops competing for your attention and reminding you of the town's heritage.

Founding father General William Jackson Palmer generously donated 1,270 acres of parklands, which established the foundation of the city's park system. It has grown to more than 12,000 acres and includes seven regional parks, eight community parks, 123 neighborhood parks, six sports complexes and 40 open space areas.