Miramont_Castle Knowpia

	Miramont
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	Miramont, also known as Miramont Castle and Montcalm Castle
Location	9 Capitol Hill, Manitou Springs, Colorado
Coordinates	38°51′33″N 104°55′19″W / 38.85917°N 104.92194°W
Website	Miramont Castle
NRHP reference No.	77000375
Added to NRHP	April 11, 1977

Miramont Castle is a museum located in Manitou Springs, Colorado.^[2] The Castle was originally built in 1895 as a private home for Father Jean Baptist Francolon, a French-born Catholic priest.^[3]^[4] Located in the Manitou Springs Historic District, it is a National Register of Historic Places listing.^[5]

History edit

Father Jean Baptiste Francolon built Miramont Castle in 1895. The house is "an eclectic estate that blends a variety of architectural styles from Byzantine to Tudor."^[6] Construction was completed in 1896.^[7] The castle is an architectural example of the Victorian Era. In 1976 Miramont Castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places^[8] due to its significant historic heritage and architectural variety.^[9]^[10]^[11]

Sisters of Mercy operated Montcalm Sanitarium at Miramont,^[6] sharing the property with Francolon.^[7]^{[nb 1]}

Popular folklore has it that the castle is haunted with various apparitions and unexplained phenomenon as reported by visitors and staff.^[12]^[13]

Current edit

The house is now a Victorian-era historic house museum that is owned and operated by the Manitou Springs Historical Society. Visitors can tour 42 furnished rooms and gardens. The site also features a tea room and gift shop.

Notes edit

^ There's also a report that the Sisters acquired the dormant Miramont Castle in 1904, after Father Francolon had moved away in 1900.^[12]

References edit

^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
^ Welcome to Miramont Castle. Miramontcastle.org. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
^ "Manitou Springs castle served as a refuge for a reclusive priest". The Gazette. Docs.newsbank.com (June 10, 1990). Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
^ Miramont Castle Museum Archived 2009-11-24 at the Wayback Machine. Pikes-peak.com. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
^ National Register of Historic Places in El Paso County, Colorado. American Dreams. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Best of Colorado. Big Earth Publishing. September 1, 2002. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-56579-429-0. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
^ ^a ^b "Holiday house tour starts ominously, ends on a happy note". The Gazette. Nl.newsbank.com (December 15, 1991). Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
^ NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources. Docs.newsbank.com (December 9, 1988). Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
^ Star Telegram: Search results. Newsbank. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
^ "Lore Springs from Manitou Waters. (Sunday Magazine/Travel)." Denver: Rocky Mountain News. Primary Source Media. 1998. HighBeam Research. May 5, 2013
^ Miramont Castle. Dread Central. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Dark Destinations - Miramont Castle. Thecabinet.com. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
^ Colorado’s Haunted Architecture – Miramont Castle. Thecoloradoarchitect.com. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.