Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun

The Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun is an observation tower on Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, rising 30 meters above the mountain ridge and spanning five stories. From its viewing platforms, the limestone tower offers views over Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor Hotel, and the Garden of the Gods formation.

Spencer Penrose commissioned construction in 1937, naming the structure after Will Rogers, the American humorist who died in a plane crash while the tower was being built. The tower was completed as a memorial to Rogers and later became the final resting place for Penrose himself and his wife Julie.

The interior walls display murals depicting Native American scenes, Zebulon Pike's expeditions, and the historical development of the Pikes Peak region. These artworks form a visual narrative about early Colorado history.

Visitors reach the tower through Cheyenne Mountain Zoo at 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road, with access included in the zoo entrance fee. The path to the tower runs through the upper section of the zoo grounds and requires some walking time.

The lower portion of the structure houses the tombs of Spencer and Julie Penrose, flanked by European art pieces from the 15th and 16th centuries. This combination of burial site and collection makes the tower an unusual example of a private mausoleum with public access.