Thank you for a great time this year at The 2017 Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival!
What would you do to remember a beloved member of the community?
I bet coffin racing didn't come to mind.
Since 1995, Manitou Springs has made this an annual tradition in honor of Emma. Of all things they could do, why coffin racing?
Emma came to Manitou Springs for the miracle mineral springs in 1889. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which back then was a death sentence. Unfortunately, she lost her battle on December 4, 1891. Her dying wish was to be buried on top of Red Mountain. Her lover, William Hildebrand (a civil engineer on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway), and eleven other men carried her body up the 7,200 ft. slope. In 1929, after years of stormy weather, her remains washed down the side of the mountain. Only her casket handles, a nameplate and a few bones were found. Some say she haunts Red Mountain.
The 23rd Annual Coffin Race and Parade takes place on October 28th, 2017, from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm.
"Ghost Stories of Old Manitou" Walking Tours start at the Manitou Springs Heritage Center (517 Manitou Avenue) October 28th, 2017 beginning at 5:30 pm. Tours leave every 15 minutes until 9:pm. (See "Ghost Tour" page.)
