The Broadmoor Hotel, 1953 #postcardproject

In 1953, the parents of Marjorie and Carolyn Mills visited the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado without them, sending them back this postcard. Was it a business trip with a little added grown-up time thrown in? Or just a spring vacation? Did they drive or fly?

It was possible that Allen and Margaret flew from New Jersey to Colorado in 1953. Commercial air travel had been available in the United States since the 1920s, and by the 1950s, there were multiple airlines offering regular passenger service between many cities, including New Jersey and Colorado. Some of the major airlines operating during that time period included American Airlines, United Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, and Trans World Airlines.

I found this family in the 1950 US census and that year, Allen, the father, was a Vice President of the Fire Insurance Company. He was forty years old and his wife, Margaret was also forty. She was a housewife, busy, we assume, raising Marjorie and Carolyn. At the time of this trip Allen and Margaret were 43 and the girls were fifteen and thirteen respectively. The postcard indicates that they traveled to Colorado frequently since the whole family had stayed at a hotel near Pikes Peak at some point. We know they were white and likely middle to upper class. They lived in a wood-framed three-bedroom home that was built in 1925 near a park. A trip to the Broadmoor was and is still a treat.

The Broadmoor Hotel is a historic luxury resort located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. The hotel was built in 1918 by Spencer Penrose, a wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist who made his fortune in the mining industry.

Penrose wanted to create a world-class resort in Colorado Springs that would rival the finest hotels in Europe. He spared no expense in building the Broadmoor, which was designed in the Italian Renaissance style and featured luxurious amenities such as a golf course, spa, and outdoor pool.

Over the years, the Broadmoor has hosted many notable guests, including U.S. presidents, royalty, and celebrities. During World War II, the hotel was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers, and in the 1950s and 1960s, it became a popular destination for conventions and conferences.

The Broadmoor has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, with the most recent being a $100 million renovation in 2015. Today, the hotel features over 700 guest rooms and suites, 20 restaurants and bars, a championship golf course, a spa, and numerous outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and fishing.

The Broadmoor has become a symbol of luxury and hospitality in Colorado Springs and remains one of the most iconic hotels in the United States.