Emma Crawford lived in Manitou Springs at the turn of the century. She died young. She was buried on the top of Red Mountain. After years of rain, and stormy weather, her casket & remains washed down into the streets of Manitou Springs.
Emma was buried in an unmarked grave in Manitou Springs Cemetary. In October of every year there is now a Emma Crawford Festival. She loved Red - and slid down off Red Mountain. But... no one has forgotten her. She died young right before she was to marry an engineer on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway.
It took twelve men to carry Emma Crawfords body up to the top of Red Mountain. She had come to Manitou Springs to be cured of tuberculosis. She was a spiritualist and had climbed to the top of the mountain, because she said she saw an Indian Spirit Guide calling to her.
Of course her coffin "raced" down the hill - thus the coffin races. It sounds nuts! but it sure is a lot of fun!
The Wind Up Doll and the Maiden were very cool costumes. Many of the people attending the races dress up in costumes.
