Colorado State Publications Library

Historic Preservation in Colorado

Revised Spring 2011

By Amy Zimmer, Colorado State Publications Library, zimmer_a@cde.state.co.us

The Colorado Office of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, which works to preserve historic buildings and archaeological sites, distributes information about the importance of preservation and how the public can get involved. Many of their publications have been posted online or can be downloaded in PDF format.

 
Selected Internet Resources:

• Colorado Certified Local Government Handbook (PDF) – A guide for counties and cities with historic preservation programs and ordinances.
   
• Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Manual (PDF) – A basic guide on conducting surveys of archaeological and historic properties.
   
• Colorado Historic Preservation Income Tax Credit Information (PDF) – Information on tax incentives for owners of historic structures.
   
• Colorado Local Governments with Preservation Ordinances or Zoning (PDF) – A contact list of Colorado municipalities and counties with preservation ordinances or zoning. Those with Certified Local Governments are indicated.
   
• Dinosaur Remains (PDF) – A list of paleontological sites open to the public including addresses, phone numbers, and operating hours.
   
• Directory of Colorado State Register Properties – A complete annotated listing of all archaeological and historical sites, buildings, and districts currently listed on the State and National registers.
   
• Directory of Cultural Resource Personnel, Organizations & Agencies for Colorado (PDF) – Names, addresses, and phone numbers of archaeologists, historians, paleontologists, historical architects, etc.
   
• Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation in Colorado (PDF) – 40 page, full-color report summarizing the findings of a two-year study of the economic impacts of historic preservation in Colorado. Covers historic rehabilitation (including the State Historical Fund and State and Federal tax credits), heritage tourism, property values, affordable housing and rural preservation.
   
• A Guide to Colorado’s Historic Architecture and Engineering – A brief guide to architectural styles, forms, and types for use by architectural surveyors.
   
• Historic and Prehistoric Contexts Publications – Guides concerning National Register properties grouped by location or building type. Examples include Denver mountain parks; Historic farms and ranches of Weld County; Historic ranching resources of South Park, Colorado; Historic resources of the Santa Fe Trail; Metal mining and tourist era resources of Boulder County; The Military establishment at Camp George West, 1903-1945; Prehistoric Paleo-Indian cultures of the Colorado plains; Rural school buildings in Colorado; and more.
   
• Historic Mines Open to the Public (PDF) – A list of mining sites open to the public including addresses and phone numbers.
   
• Historical Guide to Colorado Architects – Biographical information and lists of buildings for famous Colorado architects.
   
• Information for Property Owners in a Prospective Historic District (PDF) – An information sheet on the National Register of Historic Places, the rights of property owners, the benefits of listing, and the nomination process.
   
• Information on Nominating Properties to the National Register of Historic Places and the State Register of Historic Properties (PDF) - Summaries of the National and State Register programs including the nomination process and criteria for eligibility.
   
• Origin and Functions of Colorado Local Landmarks, Colorado State Register of Historic Properties, National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program (PDF) – Summaries of the four programs comparing the legislation, purpose, administration, areas of recognition, and results of each.
   
• Profile of the Cultural Resources of Colorado (PDF) – A booklet providing information on the types of resources identified on our state, their distribution, and the forces threatening them.
   
• Public Archaeology (PDF) – A listing of Colorado archaeological sites that can be visited by the public.
   
• Researching the History of Your Home (PDF) – Articles and a checklist providing tips for finding information about historic houses.
   
• State Historical Fund (PDF) - A brochure describing the state’s grant program for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings.

 
The following is a selected list of print titles available to borrow from the State Publications Library:

• Denver International Airport historic resource : multiple property listing.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/D41/1992
  Publisher: Denver, Colo.: Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Colorado State Historical Society, 1992, 47 p.
   
• Denver mountain parks: multiple property listing.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/D41/1990
  Publisher: Denver, Colo.: Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Colorado State Historical Society, 1990, 1 volume (various pagings)
   
• Historic farms and ranches of Weld County: multiple property listing.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/W45/1991
  Publisher: Denver, Colo.: Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Colorado State Historical Society, 1991, 1 volume (various pagings)
   
• Historic ranching resources of South Park, Colorado: multiple property listing / R. Laurie Simmons and Thomas H. Simmons.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/R15/1999
  Publisher: Denver, Colo.: State Historic Preservation Office, Colorado Historical Society, 1999, 1 volume (unpaged)
   
• Historic resources of the Santa Fe Trail, 1821-1880.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/SA5/1993
  Publisher: Denver, Colo.: State Historic Preservation Office, Colorado Historical Society, 1993, 114 p.
   
• Metal mining and tourist era resources of Boulder County : multiple property Listing.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/B66/1989
  Publisher: Denver, Colo.: Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Colorado State Historical Society, 1989, 1 volume (various pagings)
   
• The Military establishment at Camp George West, 1903-1945: multiple property listing.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/G29/1992
  Publisher: Denver, Colo.: Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Colorado State Historical Society, 1992, 77 p.
   
• Prehistoric Paleo-Indian cultures of the Colorado plains: multiple property listing.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/IN3/1990
  Publisher: Denver, Colo.: Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Colorado State Historical Society, 1990 1 volume (various pagings)
   
• Rural school buildings in Colorado: multiple property listing / Suzanne Doggett and Holly Wilson.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/R35/1999
  Publisher: Denver, Collo.: State Historic Preservation Office, Colorado Historical Society, 1999, 9p.
   
• U. S. Post Offices in Colorado, 1900-1941 : multiple property listing.
  Call Number: HED6/50.2/P84/1986
  Publisher: Denver, Colo.: State Historic Preservation Office, Colorado Historical Society, 1986, 1 volume (various pagings)

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To borrow any of these print publications, contact the State Publications Library, 201 E. Colfax Ave., Room 314, Denver CO 80203; 303/866-6725; fax 303/866-6940. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Publications may also be available at depository libraries that carry state government documents, or through interlibrary loan. For further information, access the State Publications web site.

For additional information, E-Mail: Amy Zimmer