A Lasting Legacy

Penrose Heritage Museum celebrates the passions of Broadmoor founders Spencer and Julie Penrose.

SPENCER AND JULIE PENROSE, NOTED COLORADO SPRINGS entrepreneurs and philanthropists, built The Broadmoor in 1918. The resort is one of many regional attractions the couple created in the first half of the 20th century, including Pauline Chapel, The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, and Penrose Heritage Museum.

The Penroses were married in London in 1906 and spent the next 30 years traveling throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. They collected fine china, stylish clothes, furs, magnificent works of art, historical armaments, riding equipment, and other objects during their travels.

The Broadmoor, which opened on June 29, 1918, incorporated the Penroses’ favorite elements of their global travels. The Broadmoor’s Mediterranean-inspired architecture, ceiling frescoes painted by Italian artisans, bamboo furniture imported from Hong Kong, and Turkish baths all gave the property its unique flair.

Spencer Penrose promoted the resort and the region through sports, adding a golf course, horseback riding trails, polo fields, shuffleboard, fishing, an indoor riding arena, and even a stadium for professional football games and the rodeo he started in 1937.

Julie Penrose created the Broadmoor Art Academy in 1919 to provide visitors with access to fine art, music, and theater. She also built Pauline Chapel, named after her granddaughter, and filled it with religious paintings and relics purchased in Europe. Mrs. Penrose expanded The Broadmoor’s amenities in 1941 when she created the El Pomar Carriage Museum, designed by Bauhaus architect Jan Ruhtenberg, to display the Penrose carriage collection.

Today, Penrose Heritage Museum, located next to Broadmoor Hall, exhibits personal artifacts, home film footage, and photographs alongside carriages and the official race car collection of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, started by Mr. Penrose in 1916. The museum is owned and operated by El Pomar Foundation, the grant making foundation the Penroses created in 1937. Celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2023, the foundation has surpassed $700 million in grants and community programs.

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Penrose Heritage Museum

Penrose Heritage Museum is owned and operated by El Pomar Foundation, the nonprofit grant-making organization founded by the Penroses in 1937. Located next to Broadmoor Hall, the museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m.) Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Admission is complimentary. While the museum is designed as a self-guided experience, guided tours are available with advance reservation by calling (719) 577-7065