National Register of Historic Places listings in Boulder County, Colorado facts for kids

Location of Boulder County in Colorado

Welcome to Boulder County, Colorado! Did you know that many special places here are protected because of their history? These places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's like a special list of buildings, areas, and other spots that are important to the history of the United States.

This list helps make sure these places are kept safe and sound for everyone to enjoy for many years. In Boulder County, there are 86 places on this list, including one called a National Historic Landmark. That's an extra special place! A few other places were once on the list but have been removed, usually because they changed too much or were damaged.

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of places in the United States that are important for their history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. It's managed by the National Park Service. When a place is added to this list, it means it's recognized as a valuable part of our country's past.

Being on the list can help protect these places. It can also make them eligible for special grants or tax breaks to help with their care. It's a way to celebrate and preserve the stories of our communities.

Cool Historic Spots in Boulder County

Boulder County has many different types of historic places. Let's explore some of them!

Buildings and Homes

Many old buildings and homes in Boulder County have amazing stories.

• The Arnett-Fullen House in Boulder is a beautiful old home. It was built a long time ago and shows us how people lived back then.
• The T.M. Callahan House in Longmont is another historic home. It's a great example of the architecture from its time.
• The Dickens Opera House in Longmont isn't just a house; it's a place where people used to gather for shows and performances. Imagine all the talent that once graced its stage!
• The Hotel Boulderado in Boulder is a grand old hotel. It opened in 1909 and has welcomed many guests over the years. It's famous for its beautiful stained-glass ceiling.
• The Hoverhome and Hover Farmstead in Longmont includes a large house and farm buildings. It tells the story of early farming and family life in the area.
• The Ginacci House, Jacoe Store, Lackner's Tavern, LaSalla House, Petrelli-DelPizzo House, Rhoades House, Robinson House, Stolmes House, Tego Brothers Drugstore-State National Bank of Louisville, and Thomas House are all historic buildings in Louisville. They show the history of this town, from homes to shops and banks.

Schools and Churches

Schools and churches often play a big role in a community's history.

• The Bunce School near Allenspark is an old schoolhouse. It reminds us of how education used to be in smaller, more rural areas.
• The Carnegie Library in Boulder was built with money from Andrew Carnegie, who helped build many libraries across the country. It was a place for learning and reading for many years.
• The Church of the Brethren in Hygiene is a historic church building. Churches are often central to a community's social and spiritual life.
• The First Congregational Church of Lyons is another example of a historic church.
• The Highland School in Boulder served many students over the years.
• The Longmont Carnegie Library and Longmont College are important educational buildings in Longmont's past.
• The Salina School and Sunshine School are historic schoolhouses in smaller communities, showing how education spread across the county.
• The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ryssby in Boulder is a beautiful church with a unique history, showing the influence of Swedish settlers in the area.
• The Ward Congregational Church and Ward School are historic buildings in the mountain town of Ward.

Bridges and Trails

Even bridges and trails can be historic! They show how people traveled and connected communities.

• The Boulder Creek Bridge in Boulder is a historic bridge that has carried traffic for many years.
• The Denver, Boulder and Western Railway Historic District, also known as the Switzerland Trail, is a historic railroad route. It's a reminder of the trains that once moved people and goods through the mountains.
• The Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railway Historic District includes part of the historic railroad route over Rollins Pass.
• The North St. Vrain Creek Bridge in Lyons is another historic bridge.
• The Sandbeach Lake Trail and Thunder Lake Trail-Bluebird Lake Trail are historic trails in the beautiful mountain areas, showing how people explored and used the wilderness.

Other Interesting Places

Boulder County has many other unique historic spots.

• The Boulder County Poor Farm in Boulder was a place that helped people in need a long time ago.
• The Chautauqua Auditorium and Colorado Chautauqua in Boulder are very special. The Colorado Chautauqua is a National Historic Landmark, meaning it's one of the most important historic places in the entire country! It was a place where people gathered for education, music, and community events.
• The Columbia Cemetery in Boulder is a historic cemetery. It's a quiet place that tells stories of the people who lived and died in the area.
• The Denver Elevator-Grain Elevator in Louisville shows the history of farming and how grain was stored and moved.
• The Empson Cannery in Longmont was a place where food was processed and canned. It was an important part of the local economy.
• The Fox Mine Office and Fox Stone Barn in Boulder are reminders of the mining history in the region.
• The Gold Miner Hotel in Eldora was a place where miners and travelers could stay.
• The Longmont Fire Department Station 1 was the original fire station, protecting the town for many years.
• The Longmont Power Plant in Lyons provided electricity to the area.
• The Lyons Railroad Depot was where trains stopped, bringing people and goods to Lyons.
• The Lyons Sandstone Buildings are a group of buildings made from local sandstone, showing the unique building materials of the area.
• The McKenzie Well in Boulder is a historic well.
• The Modoc Mill near Ward was likely involved in mining operations.
• The Mount St. Gertrude Academy in Boulder was a school run by nuns.
• The National Fuel Company Store in Louisville was a company store, often found in mining towns.
• The Norlin Quadrangle Historic District is part of the University of Colorado Boulder campus. It includes some of the oldest and most beautiful buildings at the university.
• The Northern Colorado Power Company Substation in Boulder helped distribute electricity.
• The Rocky Mountain Mammoth Mine near Nederland is a historic mine, showing the importance of mining in Colorado's past.
• The US Post Office-Boulder Main is a historic post office building.
• The Walker Ranch Historic District west of Boulder is a large historic ranch, showing what ranching life was like.
• The Wall Street Assay Office in Wallstreet was where miners would test their ore to see how much valuable metal it contained.
• The Wild Basin House and Wild Basin Ranger Station and House near Estes Park are historic buildings in a beautiful natural area, showing the early days of park management.
• The Woodward-Baird House in Boulder is another significant historic home.

Historic Districts

Some places are listed as "Historic Districts." This means that a whole area, with many buildings, is important together.

• The Downtown Boulder Historic District includes many historic buildings in the heart of Boulder.
• The East Side Historic District and West Side Historic District in Longmont are neighborhoods with many historic homes and buildings.
• The Eldora Historic District and Gold Hill Historic District are historic mining towns. They show how these towns grew during the gold rush.
• The Shannon Farm in Lafayette is a historic farm district.

Places That Used to Be Listed

Sometimes, places are removed from the National Register. This usually happens if they are damaged or changed so much that they no longer look like they did historically.

• The Snowbound Mine in Gold Hill was once listed but was unfortunately destroyed by a fire in 2015.
• The Wilbur Williams House in Boulder was also removed from the list because it was changed a lot over time.

Images for kids

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  Arnett-Fullen House

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  Boulder County Poor Farm

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  Boulder Creek Bridge

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  Boulder Valley Grange No. 131

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  Bunce School

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  T.M. Callahan House

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  Cardinal Mill

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  Carnegie Library

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  Chautauqua Auditorium

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  Church of the Brethren

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  Colorado Chautauqua

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  Columbia Cemetery

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  Congregational Church

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  Denver Elevator-Grain Elevator

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  Denver, Boulder and Western Railway Historic District (Switzerland Trail)

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  Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railway Historic District (Rollins Pass)

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  Dickens Opera House

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  Downtown Boulder Historic District

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  Eldora Historic District

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  Empson Cannery

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  First Baptist Church of Boulder

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  First Congregational Church of Lyons

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  Fox Stone Barn

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  Ginacci House

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  Gold Hill Historic District

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  Gold Miner Hotel

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  Highland School

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  Hotel Boulderado

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  Hoverhome and Hover Farmstead

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  Jacoe Store

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  Jamestown Mercantile Building

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  Jamestown Town Hall

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  Kullgren House

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  Lackner's Tavern

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  Lafayette House

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  LaSalla House

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  Lewis House

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  Little Church in the Pines

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  Longmont Carnegie Library

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  Longmont College

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  Longmont Fire Department Station 1

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  Longmont Power Plant

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  Lyons Railroad Depot

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  Lyons Sandstone Buildings

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  McKenzie Well

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  Miller House

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  Mount St. Gertrude Academy

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  National Fuel Company Store

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  Norlin Quadrangle Historic District

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  North St. Vrain Creek Bridge

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  Northern Colorado Power Company Substation

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  Petrelli-DelPizzo House

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  Rhoades House

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  Robinson House

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  Rocky Mountain Mammoth Mine

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  St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 1881

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  Salina School

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  Shannon Farm

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  Squires-Tourtellot House

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  Stolmes House

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  Sunshine School

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  Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ryssby

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  Tego Brothers Drugstore-State National Bank of Louisville

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  The Terrace

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  Thomas House

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  Thunder Lake Patrol Cabin

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  US Post Office-Boulder Main

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  Walker Ranch Historic District

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  Wall Street Assay Office

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  Ward Congregational Church

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  Ward School

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  Martha Weiser House

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  West Side Historic District

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  Wild Basin House

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  Wild Basin Ranger Station and House

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  Woodward-Baird House

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  Snowbound Mine (former listing)