Discovered by explorer Zebulon Pike in 1806, though long familiar to Indians and Spaniards, the peak has an elevation of 14,110 feet. It was first climbed in 1820. During the 19th century, "Pike's Peak or Bust" became a familiar rallying cry for those heading west, and over the years it has assumed the role of a virtual icon of western exploration and settlement.

Information provided by the National Registry of Historic Places, a program of the National Park Service

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.