Historic Boulder Inc

Historic Boulder was born following a battle to save precious pieces of Boulder’s past. Highland School, the Union-Pacific Depot and Central School were all threatened with demolition in 1971. Historic Boulder, organized in 1972, was instrumental in saving Highland School (shown at right) and the depot. Sadly, Central School was demolished. Out of this experience rose the urgency for a legal mechanism to protect historic sites. It became clear that Boulder needed a local government mechanism for this, and to oversee and the administration of a local landmarking process. Historic Boulder drafted a historic preservation ordinance, which was unanimously voted into place by City Council unanimously adopted in 1974. To this day, Historic Boulder collaborates with the Landmarks Board and City Preservation Staff to support their mission to preserve and protect the historic, architectural, and environmental assets that contribute to Boulder’s unique sense of place.

Education is at the core of our public programming because an informed society is an empowered society. The public programs below enable Historic Boulder to foster the spirit and promote the benefits of preservation:

• Lecture series for Preservation Month in May
• History Hikes and tours year round.
• Annual secondary student essay contest on historic preservation.
• Meet the Spirits historical reenactment at Columbia Cemetery every other October (Even years)
• Ghost Walk/Ghost Talk tour in October every other October (Odd years)
• Homes for the Holidays Tour of historic houses every December
• Walking tour App highlighting the history of early African American residents
• Mid-Century Modern Architecture Tour in development

Historic Boulder advocates both on behalf of historic structures and has standing to initiate local landmarking applications. Most recently, Historic Boulder has successfully advocated for the landmarking of the Atrium Building, the Marpa House, the Dushanbe Teahouse (interior and exterior).

Historic Boulder holds easements on several buildings - commercial and homes - in town and maintains an easement inspection program to assure the maintenance of their historic features. These include the Boulder Theater, with which we are partnering as a fiscal sponsor to assess and rehabilitate the iconic Art-Deco facade.

Historic Boulder is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary this year - 2022 - with a series of events highlighting our People, our Partners and our Projects over the past five decades.