https://coloradosun.com/2020/09/03/union-soldier-statue-history-colorado/

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Thursday September 3rd, and even though there’s a lot of turmoil in the world, we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. Today, our focus is on the Union Soldier statue that formerly stood on the west side of the state Capitol.

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history:

Today, we take you back to 1929, the year the Royal Gorge Bridge was built. From then until 2001 the Royal Gorge Bridge was the highest bridge in the world, crossing 955 feet above the Arkansas River. It remains the highest bridge in the country and still falls in the top 25 highest bridges in the world.

The Royal Gorge was originally built as a tourist attraction in a mere 6 months. It cost $350,000, which was $100,000 over budget. 

Now, our feature story. 

When the statue of a Union soldier that stood on the west side of the state Capitol was toppled and defaced by protesters in June, it reignited a long-running conversation about public monuments and their meaning.

The statue, which was originally erected in 1909 to memorialize those who died defending Colorado from an attempted Confederate insurgence, will soon find a new, temporary home at History Colorado’s downtown museum, where the controversy that led to its targeting will now be part of the civic discourse around its display. 

Here’s Colorado Sun reporter Kevin Simpson with some insight:

History Colorado had approached the state and Capitol Building Advisory Committee offering to display the piece with commentary that explains the differences in how various groups have interpreted its meaning.

Jason Hanson, History Colorado’s chief creative officer and director of interpretation and research, and his colleagues have been paying close attention to the dialogue that followed the incident that pulled the statue from its pedestal.

Hanson said [quote] “the active engagement around the monument is a process that our community will share with History Colorado and each other, not the other way around. I’ve already been receiving emails from people who want to share their perspective. Some of the stakeholders we’re interested in working with are military veterans and their families, tribal representatives of those victimized in the Sand Creek massacre and their descendants, and those advocating for more social justice today.”

Meanwhile, conversations with tribal leaders have been renewed about the erection of a memorial to the Sand Creek massacre, where Union soldiers slaughtered nearly 200 Cheyenne and Arapaho people, mostly women and children. 

Kathryn Redhorse just five days into her new position as executive director of the state Commission of Indian Affairs said. “Something that’s not well known about the history of Colorado and specifically [of] Denver is that after the Sand Creek massacre occurred, members of the military did parade….they...it’s hard to say out loud...paraded the dismembered bodies of those who were killed in the massacre down the streets of downtown Denver, and that parade concluded on the westside steps of the Capitol.”

Funding for the Sand Creek memorial is already in place. The design of the memorial sculpture has been ready since 2016: a life-sized woman will be reaching north, the direction of the tribes’ retreat, with an empty cradleboard representing sorrow and loss. A location hasn’t yet been determined. Though it is thought that it could perhaps be displayed on the very same westside steps of the Capitol.

Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:

 
Colorado’s coronavirus cases are back under control, but the latest modeling data in Colorado shows problems ahead if Labor Day celebrations are like those for the Fourth of July
Colorado will invest $2 million in federal coronavirus relief funds in school districts trying to make sure all of their students have a reliable internet connection while learning at home. 
Prepare for an onslaught of abortion debate in the next two months on social media, in the mail and on television, as Colorado once again prepares to vote on an abortion measure.
Mayhem continues at Granby Ranch as new owner takes over Grand County ski and golf community

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 

And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.You can stay on top of Colorado news by signing up for free newsletters at coloradosun.com/newsletters. And you can join our Sun community by becoming a member, starting at just $5 a month. Thanks again for starting your morning with us and remember to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/09/03/union-soldier-statue-history-colorado/">https://coloradosun.com/2020/09/03/union-soldier-statue-history-colorado/</a>
Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Thursday September 3rd, and even though there&rsquo;s a lot of turmoil in the world, we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every day we&rsquo;re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. Today, our focus is on the Union Soldier statue that formerly stood on the west side of the state Capitol.
But before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history:
Today, we take you back to 1929, the year the Royal Gorge Bridge was built. From then until 2001 the Royal Gorge Bridge was the highest bridge in the world, crossing 955 feet above the Arkansas River. It remains the highest bridge in the country and still falls in the top 25 highest bridges in the world.
The Royal Gorge was originally built as a tourist attraction in a mere 6 months. It cost $350,000, which was $100,000 over budget.&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
When the statue of a Union soldier that stood on the west side of the state Capitol<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/06/25/civil-war-monument-colorado-capitol/"> was toppled and defaced by protesters in June</a>, it reignited a long-running conversation about public monuments and their meaning.
The statue, which was originally erected in 1909 to memorialize those who died defending Colorado from an attempted Confederate insurgence, will soon find a new, temporary home at History Colorado&rsquo;s downtown museum, where the controversy that led to its targeting will now be part of the civic discourse around its display.&nbsp;
Here&rsquo;s Colorado Sun reporter Kevin Simpson with some insight:
History Colorado had approached the state and Capitol Building Advisory Committee offering to display the piece with commentary that explains the differences in how various groups have interpreted its meaning.
Jason Hanson, History Colorado&rsquo;s chief creative officer and director of interpretation and research, and his colleagues have been paying close attention to the dialogue that followed the incident that pulled the statue from its pedestal.
Hanson said [quote] &ldquo;the active engagement around the monument is a process that our community will share with History Colorado and each other, not the other way around. I&rsquo;ve already been receiving emails from people who want to share their perspective. Some of the stakeholders we&rsquo;re interested in working with are military veterans and their families, tribal representatives of those victimized in the Sand Creek massacre and their descendants, and those advocating for more social justice today.&rdquo;
Meanwhile, conversations with tribal leaders have been renewed about the erection of a memorial to the Sand Creek massacre, where Union soldiers slaughtered nearly 200 Cheyenne and Arapaho people, mostly women and children.&nbsp;
Kathryn Redhorse just five days into her new position as executive director of the state Commission of Indian Affairs said. &ldquo;Something that&rsquo;s not well known about the history of Colorado and specifically [of] Denver is that after the Sand Creek massacre occurred, members of the military did parade&hellip;.they...it&rsquo;s hard to say out loud...paraded the dismembered bodies of those who were killed in the massacre down the streets of downtown Denver, and that parade concluded on the westside steps of the Capitol.&rdquo;
Funding for the Sand Creek memorial is already in place. The design of the memorial sculpture has been ready since 2016: a life-sized woman will be reaching north, the direction of the tribes&rsquo; retreat, with an empty cradleboard representing sorrow and loss. A location hasn&rsquo;t yet been determined. Though it is thought that it could perhaps be displayed on the very same westside steps of the Capitol.
Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Colorado&rsquo;s coronavirus cases are back under control, but the latest modeling data in Colorado shows problems ahead if Labor Day celebrations are like those for the Fourth of July</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Colorado will invest $2 million in federal coronavirus relief funds in school districts trying to make sure all of their students have a reliable internet connection while learning at home.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Prepare for an onslaught of abortion debate in the next two months on social media, in the mail and on television, as Colorado once again prepares to vote on an abortion measure.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Mayhem continues at Granby Ranch as new owner takes over Grand County ski and golf community</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>.&nbsp;
And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.You can stay on top of Colorado news by signing up for free newsletters at<a href="http://coloradosun.com/newsletters"> coloradosun.com/newsletters</a>. And you can join our Sun community by becoming a member, starting at just $5 a month. Thanks again for starting your morning with us and remember to tune in again tomorrow.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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