Summary
Organization name
Buena Vista Heritage
other names
BVH
1974
Tax id (EIN)
74-2498589
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
PO Box 1414Buena Vista, CO 81211
Chaffee County, CO, US
Buena Vista Heritage: Preserving Our Past, Inspiring Our Future
For over 50 years, Buena Vista Heritage has been the only nonprofit dedicated to protecting, interpreting, and celebrating the history of Buena Vista and Chaffee County. Without BVH, our community would risk losing the buildings, stories, and traditions that give this place its character.
Our three historic properties — the 1882 Chaffee County Courthouse, the 1890 DSP&P Railroad Depot & Caboose, and the 1910 Turner Farm & Apple Orchard — are more than museums. They are classrooms, gathering places, and community landmarks where history is experienced, not just remembered.
Every year:
- Thousands of visitors step into the courthouse, depot, and farm to connect with our shared past.
- Over 300 children and families participate in educational tours, school programs, and living history events.
- Community members attend concerts, festivals, and tours that foster a sense of pride and belonging.
- Volunteers and donors make it all possible — from preserving apple trees to restoring historic windows.
Why BVH Deserves Your Gift
When you give to Buena Vista Heritage, you aren’t just donating to a nonprofit. You are:
- Preserving landmarks that cannot be replaced. Once a building is gone, it’s lost forever.
- Investing in education. Kids today will carry these lessons of resilience and community into the future.
- Leveraging your gift. BVH regularly secures state grants, local partnerships, and in-kind volunteer support — multiplying every dollar you give.
- Building community. From AppleFest to Cemetery Tours, BVH brings people together in ways no other nonprofit does.
Your Gift, Your Legacy
Every dollar you give keeps doors open, lights on, and stories alive. Every restored window, every orchard sign, every child’s tour is proof of your impact.
Buena Vista Heritage is not just preserving history — we are protecting the soul of our community.
When you choose BVH, you choose to ensure that Buena Vista’s unique history is not just remembered but lived, shared, and celebrated for generations to come.
Join us. Give today. Because history has no second chance.
Mission
Buena Vista Heritage is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit organization that preserves and shares the history of Buena Vista and Chaffee County. Through education, conservation, and community involvement, we endeavor to ignite curiosity and foster understanding in current and future generations.
Background Statement
In 1974, a small group of neighbors rallied to save a single historic building in Buena Vista. What began as a grassroots effort has grown over 50 years into Buena Vista Heritage—a trusted steward of our community’s history and a vibrant gathering place for all who call this valley home.
Today, we care for three treasured historic properties—the 1882 Chaffee County Courthouse, the 1890 DSP&P Depot & Caboose, and the 1910 Turner Farm & Apple Orchard—each with its own museum and story to tell. Together, these sites connect residents and visitors to the people, places, and events that shaped Buena Vista and Chaffee County.
From school field trips and living-history programs to festivals, concerts, and walking tours, Buena Vista Heritage brings history to life. For many, our museums are more than collections of artifacts—they are spaces of discovery, inspiration, and pride in community.
For five decades, Buena Vista Heritage has proven that preserving the past builds a stronger future. With your support, we will continue to protect our landmarks, share our stories, and welcome generations to come.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Buena Vista, CO 81211