Robert & Virginia Heinlein's
Colorado Springs House

In 1950-51, the Heinleins built a new house in the Broadmoor district of Colorado Springs. Being a newly developed area, they were allowed to choose their own house number. It will surprise few that they chose 1776.

This article was written shortly after the completion of the house, and shows off Heinlein's innately clever design abilities. Many of the features are now common in more recent houses. Although his direct influence is probably nil, his ability to see future developments is again impressive.

The house was sold when the Heinlein's moved to Santa Cruz in the mid-1960s, and its third owner bought it around 1995. These owners substantially rebuilt the house, making it much larger, and reports are that little of Heinlein's original work survives.

One thing that does survive is the bomb shelter, built in early 1963 (after Heinlein announced they had no shelter at SeaCon, Labor Day 1962). The house, city, and bomb shelter are featured prominently in the novel Farnham's Freehold.

Mystery/thriller writer Robert Crais, a Heinlein fan (who puts at least one Heinlein reference in each of his bestselling novels), visited the house in about 1998 and was allowed to visit the bomb shelter and take pictures. You'll find his photo essay here. The door and stairway shown are just off the original kitchen.