No one knows why this valley was named “The Garden of the Gods.”  There is nothing especially garden-like in its appearance; but, doubtless through “apt alliteration’s artful aid,” the name has become greatly popular, and it would be foolish to quarrel with it, or make any attempt to change it.  There are, however, ample suggestions that Titanic forces have been at work here, and it requires but little imagination to ascribe these innumerable quaint sculpturings, these magnificent architectural rock works, these grand and imposing temples, not made with hands, to the agencies of the gods.  Here are to be found carved in the stone by those cunning instruments of the hands of Nature—­the wind, the rain, the sunbeam and the frost—­curious, often grotesque, figures irresistibly suggestive of forms of life.  Here stands a statue of Liberty, leaning on her shield, with the conventional Phrygian cap on her head; there is a gigantic frog carved in sandstone; yonder is a pilgrim, staff in hand.  Groups of figures in curious attitudes are to be seen on every hand.

Stone figures of the lion, the seal and the elephant are all found; indeed, a lively imagination is not needed to discover in this Garden of the Gods an endless variety of imitative forms of human beings, of birds and beasts and reptiles.  These figures possess a curious interest and attract wondering attention; but the notable and majestic objects here are the “Great Gateway” and the “Cathedral Spires.”  Two lofty tables of carnelian colored sandstone, set directly opposite each other, about fifty feet apart, and rising to a height of 330 feet, form the portals of the far-famed Gateway.  They rise from perfectly level ground, and present a strangely impressive spectacle.

The “Cathedral Spires” are of a similar character to the Gateway, but their crests are sharply splintered into spire-like pinnacles.  The forms assumed by the rocks here are remarkable indeed, but their color is still more remarkable.  No sandstones of the East glow with such a splendor of carnelian hue.  The striking contrast formed by these crimson crags outlined against he deep blue sky, and gilded by the high, white light of the unclouded sun of Colorado, cannot be described.

One of the most visited prairie-dog towns is close to the Garden of the Gods.  It is interesting to the tourist, and is generally visited on the return from the Garden to Manitou.  The town is situated on the road which passes through the great Gateway to Colorado City, and may be seen on a little plateau to the left.  There are a great number of little hills of sand and gravel thrown up by the dogs around their burrows.  Every fine day they can be seen at work around their dwellings, or sitting on their haunches sunning themselves, and chattering gaily with some neighbor.  The burrow has an easy incline for about two feet, then descends perpendicularly for five or six, and after that branches off obliquely; it is often as large as a foot in diameter.  It has been claimed that the prairie-dog, the owl and the rattlesnake live harmoniously together.