Exhibit: Charles Christopher Parry: King of Colorado Botany

What: Contemporary herbarium specimens celebrating Parry's 1862 Pikes Peak Expedition and collection of botanical watercolors and engravings by female artists.

Free wildflower packets and refreshments will be available at Opening.

When: This exhibit will continue through December of 2012.

Pikes Peak Wildflowers Featered At Manitou Springs Heritage Center

The Manitou Springs Heritage center held a "517 at 5:17" Event for the opening of its newest exhibit titled Charles Christopher Parry: King of Colorado Botany on Thursday, May 24th at 5:17 pm.

The exhibit will continue through December 2012 and celebrates the 150th anniversary of Parry's 1862 botany expedition and ascent of Pikes Peak and features contemporary herbarium specimens collected on the mountain.

Charles Christopher Parry (Aug. 28, 1823 - Feb 20, 1890) was a British-American botanist and mountaineer. He studied medicine at Columbia University, and botany under several of the 19th Century's pre-eminent botanists. He practiced medicine for a short time, but botanical studies proved to be his passion. Parry participated in several important early surveys of the West and his papers were widely published. In 1862, Parry documented Colorado's flora, including species on Pikes Peak. For the rest of his life, Parry spent his summers on botanical explorations of the Western states and made extensive plant colections, many of which proved to be new species.

In addition to the exhibit, on Wednesday, June 6th at 6:30 pm, the Heritage Center hosted special guest speaker, Deborah Q. Lewis, Curator of the Ada Hayden Herbarium of Iowa State University. Iowa State purchased Parry's herbarium and many of his personal papers and books in 1894, and as the curator of his records, Ms. Lewis' presentation will provide additional insight on the man and his work. Thanks to donors for covering travel expenses and Two Sisters Inn Bed & Breakfast for donating lodging for Ms. Lewis and her husband.

In additional to focusing on Parry's efforts, the exhibit also includes the watercolors and engravings of three women who furthered the field of botany with their art. As a special highlight beyond serving refreshments, packets of Colorado wildflower seeds will be given away to everyone who attends the opening.

The Manitou Springs Heritage Center is located at 517 Manitou Avenue.

Summer Hours: Thursdays through Mondays, from 10 am to 5 pm.

To find out more about the Manitou Springs Heritage Center, visit the website www.manitouspringscenter.org  or contact the Center at manitouheritage@gmail.com, or call 719.685.1454.