Founders’ Day
Founders’ Day is a traditional celebration of the legacy and future of the U.S. Air Force Academy and its founders. Speaking engagements are held at the Academy and across the nation and the Cadet Wing conducts a parade on the first Saturday in April.
Fun Facts
Over 340 architectural firms competed for the commission of designing and constructing the Academy. Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, Architects and Engineers finally won!
Lowry Air Force Base, formerly located near Denver, became the temporary site of the Academy.
After considering 580 proposed sites, the commission selected this site from three finalists, which included Alton, Illinois and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
When considering Colorado Springs, the commission explained that they were looking for an area of at least 15,000 acres so there would be ample space for expansion.
The commission looked for a site within 50 miles of cities that did not have severe temperature extremes and was accessible to rail, air, and highway systems.
It didn’t hurt that the city of Colorado Springs embraced the idea of having a service academy in its backyard.
