The man in the floor

Colorado · United States · House

He stands by the small fountain, but he is standing on something below the shop's floor. He comes out of the ground at the knees.

Both staff and customers at this shop in Manitou Springs, Colorado have seen an elderly man.

He stands near a small fountain. What everybody notices is that he is not standing on the floor. He comes out of the ground at the knees, as though the surface he is on were lower than the one they are on.

That detail is the most useful thing in this collection, because it has an explanation and the explanation is architectural. Old commercial buildings were built to the street level of their day, and street levels rise: pavements are raised, floors are laid over floors, and a shop that has been in use for a century is frequently standing a foot or two above where it started.

A figure cut off at the knees is standing on the original floor.

Manitou Springs was built around its mineral springs.

The shop is open.

FAQ

Where is The man in the floor located?

The man in the floor is in Colorado, United States.