National Register of Historic Places listings in Chaffee County, Colorado facts for kids
Welcome to Chaffee County, Colorado! This area is full of amazing history, and many of its special places are protected on a list called the National Register of Historic Places. This list is like a hall of fame for buildings, sites, and objects that are important to the history of the United States. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized for its unique past and is often helped to be preserved for future generations.
In Chaffee County, there are 46 different properties and areas that have earned a spot on this important list. These places tell stories about how people lived, worked, and built communities here long ago. Let's explore some of these cool historic spots!
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Contents
Historic Places in Chaffee County
Chaffee County is home to many fascinating places that are part of the National Register of Historic Places. These sites include old homes, bridges, schools, and even entire historic towns. Each one has a story to tell about the past.
Homes with History
Many of the buildings on the National Register are old homes that show us how people lived in the past.
Alexander House
The Alexander House in Salida was added to the list in 2007. It's a great example of the homes built in the early 1900s.
Bode-Stewart House
Also in Salida, the Bode-Stewart House joined the list in 2008. It's another beautiful old home that helps us imagine life in the past.
J. M. Bonney House
In Buena Vista, the J. M. Bonney House has been recognized since 1994. It's a significant part of Buena Vista's history.
William and Anna Fay House
The William and Anna Fay House in Buena Vista was added in 2015. It's a charming old home that tells a story of the families who lived there.
Garret and Julia Gray Cottage
The Garret and Julia Gray Cottage in Salida, listed in 1980, is a smaller, cozy home that shows a different style of living from its time.
Heister House
The Heister House in Salida, added in 2008, is another example of the historic homes that make up the character of the town.
F.A. Jackson House
The F.A. Jackson House in Salida, listed in 1999, is a well-preserved home that offers a glimpse into the past.
Kelley-McDonald House
In Buena Vista, the Kelley-McDonald House was added in 2015. It's a lovely historic home that contributes to the town's heritage.
Pedro-Botz House
The Pedro-Botz House in Salida, listed in 2015, is another important historic residence in the county.
Important Buildings and Structures
Beyond homes, many other types of buildings and structures are recognized for their historical value.
Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings
The Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings in Buena Vista, listed in 1979, are important because they represent the local government and justice system from long ago. Imagine what trials and decisions happened within those walls!
Grace Episcopal Church
The Grace Episcopal Church in Buena Vista, added in 1978, is a beautiful example of historic church architecture and a place where the community gathered for many years.
Jacobs Building
The Jacobs Building in Buena Vista, listed in 2011, is a historic commercial building that shows how businesses operated in the past.
Manhattan Hotel
The Manhattan Hotel in Salida, added in 1983, was once a bustling place where travelers and locals stayed. It's a reminder of the early days of tourism and travel in the area.
Commercial Hotel
The Commercial Hotel in Granite, listed in 2015, also served as a place for people to stay and gather in the historic mining town of Granite.
Pine Hall
Pine Hall in Granite, added in 2016, is another historic building in the old mining community.
Bridges and Transportation
Bridges are often listed because they show amazing engineering from the past and how people traveled.
Bridge over Arkansas River
The Bridge over Arkansas River in Buena Vista, listed in 1985, is a historic bridge that helped connect communities across the river.
Brown's Canyon Bridge
The Brown's Canyon Bridge near Salida, added in 2013, is another example of an important historic crossing over the Arkansas River.
F Street Bridge
The F Street Bridge in Salida, listed in 1985, is a key part of the town's history, connecting different parts of Salida.
Morley Bridge
The Morley Bridge near Romley, added in 2003, is a historic bridge that once served the mining areas.
Schools and Community Places
Schools and other community buildings tell us about education and social life in the past.
Maysville School
The Maysville School near Maysville, listed in 1999, is an old schoolhouse that taught generations of children in the area.
Poncha Springs Schoolhouse
The Poncha Springs Schoolhouse in Poncha Springs, added in 1990, is another historic school building that served its community for many years.
Valley View School
The Valley View School in Salida, listed in 2003, is a historic school that played an important role in educating local children.
Chaffee County Poor Farm
The Chaffee County Poor Farm near Salida, added in 1985, was a place that helped people in need long ago. It shows how communities cared for their residents.
Comanche Drive-In
The Comanche Drive-In in Buena Vista, listed in 2015, is a unique historic place. It's an old outdoor movie theater where people watched films from their cars. It reminds us of a fun era in entertainment!
Salida Livestock Commission Company
The Salida Livestock Commission Company in Salida, added in 2015, was an important place for farmers and ranchers to buy and sell animals. It shows the agricultural history of the county.
Head Lettuce Day-Collegiate Peaks Stampede Rodeo Grounds
The Head Lettuce Day-Collegiate Peaks Stampede Rodeo Grounds in Buena Vista, listed in 2016, is a historic site related to local festivals and rodeos. It highlights the community's traditions and events.
Mining and Industrial History
Chaffee County has a rich mining history, and several sites reflect this past.
Alpine Tunnel Historic District
The Alpine Tunnel Historic District near Hancock and Quartz, listed in 1996, is a very important historical area. It includes parts of an old railroad track and buildings from the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad. This railway was a huge engineering feat, going through mountains to connect mining towns.
Crescent Moly Mine No. 100 and Mining Camp
The Crescent Moly Mine No. 100 and Mining Camp near Granite, added in 2003, is a historic mining site. It shows how miners lived and worked to extract valuable minerals from the earth.
Littlejohn Mine Complex
The Littlejohn Mine Complex southwest of Granite, listed in 1978, is another significant mining site. It represents the hard work and challenges of the mining industry in the region.
Ohio-Colorado Smelting and Refining Company Smokestack
The Ohio-Colorado Smelting and Refining Company Smokestack northeast of Salida, added in 1976, is a tall chimney from an old smelting plant. Smelting is the process of extracting metal from ore. This smokestack is a reminder of the industrial past of Salida.
Historic Towns and Districts
Some entire areas or towns are recognized for their historical importance.
St. Elmo Historic District
The St. Elmo Historic District is a famous ghost town near St. Elmo, listed in 1979. It's one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Colorado, with many original buildings still standing. Walking through St. Elmo is like stepping back in time to a 19th-century mining community.
Salida Downtown Historic District
The Salida Downtown Historic District, listed in 1984, includes many historic buildings in the heart of Salida. This area shows what a busy town center looked like in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Vicksburg Mining Camp
The Vicksburg Mining Camp near Granite, added in 1977, is another historic mining community. It has remnants of a town that once had about 800 people, showing how these remote areas grew around mining.
Winfield Mining Camp
The Winfield Mining Camp near Granite, listed in 1980, is also a historic mining community. It was once home to about 1500 people, making it a bustling center during the mining boom.
Ranches and Farms
Ranches and farms are important because they show the agricultural history of the county.
Behrman Ranch
The Behrman Ranch near Buena Vista, listed in 2012, is a historic ranch property. It represents the farming and ranching traditions that were vital to the area's development.
Hutchinson Ranch
The Hutchinson Ranch near Poncha Springs, added in 1973, is another significant historic ranch. It shows the long history of agriculture in Chaffee County.
Rock Ledge Ranch-Franzel Ranch
The Rock Ledge Ranch-Franzel Ranch near Buena Vista, listed in 2015, is a historic ranch that tells the story of early settlers and their connection to the land.
Former Listing
Sometimes, a property might be removed from the National Register of Historic Places. This usually happens if the property is destroyed or changed so much that it loses its historical importance.
Hortense Bridge
The Hortense Bridge near Nathrop was once on the list, but it was removed in 1997. The bridge was taken apart to be moved, but it was damaged and never put back together. This shows how important it is to protect these historic structures.
| Name on the Register | Image | Date listed | Date removed | Location | City or town | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hortense Bridge |
_vicinity_(Chaffee_County,_Colorado).jpg) |
(#85000191) |
|
State Highway 162 |
Nathrop | Bridge was disassembled to be relocated and was damaged and never reassembled |
