 It was on this date in 1893. It inspired from the view atop Pike's Peak, an American author and professor, Catherine Lee Bates, not to be confused with the lady that sunk the Titanic in the movie. Wasn't she the one that played this unsinkable Molly Brown, Kathy Bates? Was that her name? Yes, I think it is. Writes the lyrics to America the Beautiful, different Kathy Bates.