One mile up Ruxton Avenue from your RV hookup, a Victorian castle guards a secret most locals still whisper about—the Room of Mummies. How did a French priest living in 1890s Manitou Springs end up with wrapped relics from three continents? Are they the real deal, and will narrow staircases or squeamish kids stop you from seeing them? Keep reading to uncover Father Francolon’s globe-trotting connection to archaeologist Adolph Bandelier, learn why conservationists give the exhibit ethical thumbs-up, and snag insider tips on parking, ticket timing, and wheelchair work-arounds before you roll out.
Key Takeaways
Before plunging into the castle’s winding hallways, skim these essentials so you can plan your visit with confidence and maximize every minute on Ruxton Avenue. Each point below answers the questions travelers most often type into search bars, giving you a head start on logistics, ethical concerns, and kid-friendly perks.
– Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs has a Room of Mummies you can visit.
– Father Francolon, a French priest who traveled the world, built the castle in 1895 and gathered real mummies from Egypt, the Andes, and the American Southwest with help from archaeologist Adolph Bandelier.
– The room teaches how different cultures prepared bodies for the afterlife; it is meant to educate, not scare.
– Museum staff protect the mummies with cool air, soft lights, careful records, and yearly check-ups; Native and other descendant groups help review the displays.
– Plan about 90 minutes for your visit; the mummy room is on the wheelchair-friendly ground floor; no flash photos allowed.
– Buy timed tickets online and come early (doors open at 10 a.m. in summer) to avoid crowds.
– Park large RVs at Pikes Peak RV Park and walk or take the free shuttle; small cars can try the castle’s tight lot.
– Kids enjoy QR codes, a scavenger hunt, and gentle lighting that keeps things from feeling spooky.
– Extras include Victorian tea service, nine different photo-worthy building styles, and combo tickets to nearby cliff dwellings.
Use these highlights as your quick checklist. The deeper dive that follows reveals why each bullet matters—and how to turn simple sightseeing into a story you’ll retell long after the last tea crumb disappears.
Why a Victorian Castle in Manitou Springs Houses Mummies
Father Jean Baptiste Francolon was no ordinary parish priest. Born to a French diplomat, he crisscrossed Europe, South America, and the Middle East before settling in Colorado to recover his health. Those travels forged a friendship with Swiss-American archaeologist Adolph Bandelier, who regularly sent artifacts to colleagues for comparative study—a legal and common nineteenth-century practice.
When Francolon built Miramont in 1895, he dedicated one turreted room to objects that illustrated humanity’s shared quest for an afterlife. Bandelier’s shipments joined items the priest had gathered during diplomatic postings, and soon child-size linen bundles from Egypt sat beside Andean funerary wrappings and woven fragments from ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellers. Rather than a carnival sideshow, the room functioned as a private teaching cabinet. Today the castle’s nonprofit stewards preserve that intent, framing the exhibit as a cross-cultural look at mummification’s universal themes.
Castle at a Glance – Setting the Stage
The mansion itself is part history lesson, part Instagram playground. Nine architectural styles—Queen Anne gables, Romanesque arches, and a surprise Moorish keyhole window—stack atop thick local stone, earning the name “Miramont,” or “look at the mountain” (Wikipedia source). From the front porch you can, in fact, spot the summit of Pikes Peak glinting behind treetops. Interior rooms showcase cherry-wood staircases, stained-glass transoms, and a sprawling fireplace mantel perfect for moody photos.
After Francolon deeded the estate, the Sisters of Mercy transformed it into Montcalme Tuberculosis Sanitarium from 1907 to 1928, hoping clean mountain air would heal their patients (Colorado Encyclopedia). Later decades saw a boarding-house phase and near-dereliction before the Manitou Springs Historical Society stepped in, reopening the castle as a museum in 1976 (Miramont website). Today more than thirty furnished rooms and the Queen’s Parlour Tea Room let visitors sample Victorian high life without leaving the foothills.
Inside the Room of Mummies
Step through heavy oak doors and the lighting drops to gallery-soft. Straight ahead lies a glass case cradling an Egyptian child wrapped in delicate linen strips, an X-ray panel revealing tiny arm bones folded across the chest. To the left, an Andean bundle swaddled in alpaca fiber hints at mountain rituals eerily similar to those practiced far away on the Nile.
Turning clockwise—follow the suggested path printed on your map—you encounter Southwest cliff-dweller artifacts: yucca cord, corn pollen, and an illustrated panel on natural desert mummification. Interpretive boards break the science into kid-friendly steps: remove moisture, seal the body, surround it with items needed for the journey beyond. Resin samples and reproduction obsidian scalpels keep teens engaged, while QR codes trigger 30-second audio clips for hands-free learning. Flash photography is banned—additional light can shatter centuries-old pigment—but low-light phone settings capture the scene just fine. Parents report most eight- to ten-year-olds handle the room easily; soft LEDs avoid the horror-movie vibe.
Ethical Care and Conservation
Modern stewardship rules the gallery. Temperature holds at 68 °F, humidity at 45 percent, and low-UV LEDs bathe the cases, all logged in a binder you can request at the front desk. The Manitou Springs Historical Society follows American Alliance of Museums protocols and invites descendant communities to review labels each year.
Provenance spreadsheets trace every object back to original digs or exchanges, and a local conservator performs an annual “wellness check” that includes fiber sampling and microscopic imaging. Should future repatriation claims arise, the museum’s board has publicly pledged to cooperate—details you’ll find on the ethics panel just inside the doorway. In short, you can appreciate the artifacts without that nagging “is this exploitative?” feeling looming over your visit.
Visitor Logistics You’ll Be Glad You Knew
Seasonal hours shift more than mountain weather. From May through September, doors open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; shoulder months often trim to Wednesday–Sunday. Buy timed tickets online to dodge sell-outs and save a few bucks with the family bundle. Planning morning arrival pays off: narrow Victorian hallways back up quickly after 11 a.m., and early birds get unobstructed photos of the grand staircase.
Skip squeezing your Class C rig into the petite castle lot. Leave big vehicles at Pikes Peak RV Park, then stroll the shady Fountain Creek Trail—about fifteen minutes—or hop the free town shuttle that stops at Ruxton and Capitol Hill. Ground-floor rooms, including the mummy exhibit, are ramp-accessible; upper floors require stairs, but a photo flipbook at reception lets mobility-impaired guests view what they’re missing. Average wander time is ninety minutes; tack on forty-five more if you’ve booked a Victorian tea, served course-style and impossible to rush.
Smart Tips Depending on Your Travel Style
Local history buffs should arrive right at opening, snap the empty staircase, and detour west-wing plaques that still list sanitarium patient fees in elegant script. Pair the visit with a quick walk to the Iron Springs Geyser pavilion for bonus 1890s context.
Retiree heritage travelers often prefer quieter weekdays; request the 11 a.m. docent-led tour for deeper provenance talk, then rest knees on benches stationed every three rooms. Shaded pull-through RV spots—sites 7 through 11—book fast at the park, so reserve early.
Families can pick up the free scavenger sheet, turning “find the scarab amulet” into a competition. When museum fatigue strikes, step outside to the herb garden for a lavender sniff reset, then promise post-tour ice cream on Manitou Avenue to keep manners polished. Castle staff can stamp a completion badge, giving children a tangible reward and encouraging them to explore thoughtfully.
Millennial culture hunters will gravitate to the Moorish archway upstairs and Romanesque fireplace for feed-worthy shots. No flash in the mummy room, but Night Mode nails the ambiance. Craft your caption around “Victorian priest + Bandelier = global mummy mash-up in the Rockies” and watch the likes roll in.
Rainy-day adventurers can clock a half-day fix: castle from 10 to noon, lunch downtown, then the Manitou Cliff Dwellings under the same combo ticket if ordered at the front desk. Coat hooks inside the carriage entrance handle wet gear; umbrellas are welcome.
Half-Day Plan From Pikes Peak RV Park
Start engines—or don’t. At 9:30 a.m., lock the rig and join the creekside footpath that parallels Ruxton Avenue, gaining a gentle 100 feet of elevation by the time the castle doors swing wide at 10 a.m. Inside, follow the perimeter clockwise in the mummy gallery for the intended storyline, then drift through fire-fighting memorabilia and the light-catching solarium.
By 11:45 a.m., you’ll be sipping Earl Grey in the Queen’s Parlour or wandering five minutes downhill for green-chili stew at a local café. Afternoon options include the Cliff Dwellings or a quick drive to Cave of the Winds. Wrap up back at the RV before golden hour, grab camp chairs, and stroll to Soda Springs Park for free summer music as sunset paints Pikes Peak.
Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet
Before you set your GPS, a rapid rundown keeps the day on track. Miramont Castle sits at 9 Capitol Hill Avenue, exactly one mile west of Pikes Peak RV Park. Tickets run $14 for adults, $11 for seniors, $8 for kids four to twelve, and littles under four are free; family bundles shave about fifteen percent off the total.
Parking favors passenger cars only, ground floor is wheelchair accessible, and average visit length clocks in at ninety minutes. Photography is allowed—no flash in the mummy room—so prep your low-light settings. For bad-weather arrivals, the town shuttle drops you under a covered entry that keeps you dry from bus to door.
From linen-wrapped legends to lavender tea, Miramont Castle proves that Manitou Springs is never short on surprises—and it’s all just one scenic mile from your campsite. Skip the tight castle lot, wake up to Pikes Peak glowing beyond the trees, and saunter up Ruxton Avenue with nothing but curiosity in tow. Book your creekside spot at Pikes Peak RV Park today, and let our quiet, full-hookup basecamp turn a quick visit to the Room of Mummies into an effortlessly unforgettable getaway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are the mummies in Miramont Castle authentic?
A: Yes. The Egyptian child, Andean funerary bundle, and Southwest cliff-dweller pieces were legally acquired in the late 1800s through Father Jean Baptiste Francolon’s correspondence with archaeologist Adolph Bandelier, and their authenticity has since been confirmed by X-ray imaging, textile analysis, and carbon dating conducted under the supervision of the Manitou Springs Historical Society.
Q: How did a Victorian priest in Manitou Springs obtain mummies in the first place?
A: Father Francolon grew up traveling with a French-diplomat father and later befriended Bandelier, who mailed comparative specimens to colleagues; when Francolon built Miramont in 1895 he set aside one room as a “cabinet of curiosities” illustrating global burial customs, and the artifacts on display today come directly from those exchanges.
Q: Is the exhibit considered ethical by modern museum standards?
A: The castle follows American Alliance of Museums guidelines, maintains complete provenance records, consults descendant communities annually, and has a public pledge to cooperate with repatriation requests, so visitors can engage with the material knowing it meets current ethical norms.
Q: Will the Room of Mummies scare kids or sensitive visitors?
A: Most families report that the softly lit cases and educational panels strike a respectful, science-forward tone rather than a horror vibe; eight-to-twelve-year-olds usually handle it well, and staff are happy to suggest a quick alternate route if someone feels uneasy.
Q: How long should I budget for the mummy room and the whole castle?
A: The mummy gallery can be explored in about 15–20 minutes, but the average self-guided visit through all 30 rooms takes 90 minutes; add 45 more if you’re staying for Victorian tea.
Q: Is Miramont Castle wheelchair-friendly or walker-friendly?
A: Ground-floor rooms—including the mummy exhibit—are ramp accessible, interior doorways meet ADA width standards, and benches appear every three rooms; upper floors require stairs, but a photo flipbook of those spaces is available at reception.
Q: Can I take photos or videos inside the mummy room?
A: Handheld photography without flash is welcome throughout the museum, including the mummy room; tripods, selfie sticks, and external lights are not permitted to protect fragile pigments.
Q: Where should I park my RV or oversized vehicle?
A: The castle’s lot fits only passenger cars, so leave your rig at Pikes Peak RV Park and either walk the scenic 15-minute creekside path, catch the free town shuttle that stops at Ruxton and Capitol Hill, or drive a towed vehicle up the hill.
Q: What are the current ticket prices and discounts?
A: As of this season, adult admission is $14, seniors 60+ pay $11, children 4–12 are $8, and kids under four enter free; a family bundle knocks about 15 percent off, and AAA or military ID earns an additional dollar discount.
Q: Are guided tours available that focus on the mummies’ origin?
A: Yes. Docent-led tours run at 11 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday, spend extra time in the mummy room discussing acquisition history, and are included in the standard ticket—just reserve a slot online when you buy timed entry.
Q: When’s the best time to visit to avoid crowds and grab good photos?
A: Arrive right at the 10 a.m. opening on weekdays or shoulder-season months (April, October) for nearly empty halls and unobstructed shots of both the staircase and exhibit cases before tour groups arrive.
Q: Can I bundle my castle ticket with other indoor attractions for a rainy day?
A: The front desk sells a combo pass that pairs Miramont Castle with the nearby Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum at a small discount, giving you two weather-proof stops within a five-minute drive of each other.
Q: Is shaded or covered parking available for standard vehicles?
A: The on-site lot has partial tree cover, and the town shuttle drops passengers under a covered side porch, so both drivers and walkers can stay dry or out of direct sun while entering the castle.
Q: Are strollers allowed inside the castle?
A: Compact, non-jogging strollers are permitted on the ground floor—including the mummy room—but wide models may have trouble with narrow Victorian doorways; a small umbrella stroller or baby carrier is the safest bet.
Q: What happens if future repatriation claims arise for the mummies?
A: The Historical Society’s published collections policy states it will initiate dialogue with claimant communities, share conservation data, and, if warranted, facilitate return or joint stewardship of any artifact in question.
