$22,436 raised by 71 donors
93% complete
$24,000 Goal
Relevance
Boulder frequently has been selected as one of the best places to live in the U.S. This is no accident...Boulder didn't just happen. Generations of citizens have been working in a myriad of ways to make this a special place and historic preservation has played a critical role. For 54 years Historic Boulder Inc. has been advocating for the preservation of "legacy" properties. In partnership with the City, this has resulted in the protection of over 1,300 properties, ensuring that the lessons of the past are known in the present and the future. Historic preservation, from every era of Boulder, contributes to the remarkable spirit of our town.
Historic Boulder fosters the spirit and benefits of preservation through advocacy, education, rehabilitation and celebration.
Advocate
Historic Boulder’s advocacy to save historic places is busier than ever as our community faces mounting pressures to demolish buildings. This year we have lost the Harvest House Hotel and the Baseline Middle School building. Historic Boulder appears regularly before the Landmarks Board to support preservation of historic buildings, and works with willing owners to assist in the landmarking process. We work with community groups to promote the historic value of buildings in the city and county in order that preservation will be considered as a sustainability tool in future planning. The greenest building is one that is already built.
Educate
Historic Boulder produces numerous live tours and programs throughout the year. We kicked off the year with a Benefit Concert in the Historic Boulder Theater to raise matching funds to restore the beautiful Art Deco façade. We presented a history of the Altona Grange at our annual meeting which is also available on our YouTube channel. We led several walking tours of Mid-Century Modern houses and monthly tours of Pearl Street downtown. Our programs on the impact of the Federal Labs on the Spirit of Boulder and Boulder's modern architecture were presented at several venues including the Rotary Club, University of Colorado, Harvard GSD reunion, Frasier Senior Living, Academy Senior Living, and the Museum of Boulder. Partnering with Chautauqua and Protect Our Past, we produced a first-time film festival "Saving Our Past" with community talk-backs on preservation topics. We continued our ‘history hikes’ on the trails around Boulder, including little known historical structures on Mount Sanitas, Chautauqua and the Flatirons.
Three of our Central Park programs are on YouTube: Frederick Law Olmsted and Boulder's "Improvers", Displaced Residents and Landmark (and lost) Architecture in the central park area.
Our virtual walking tours continue to be available to the public on the PocketSights app: a survey of Modernist buildings in Central Boulder and a tour of "The Little Rectangle" neighborhood which was home to many of Boulder's early black citizens.
Rehabilitate
Historic Boulder successfully administered a State Historical Fund construction grant to rehabilitate the façade of the historic Boulder Theater. This iconic Art-Deco building is in the heart of Boulder's Downtown Historic District (on the National, state and local historic registers) and we raised matching funds from the community along with the owner and operator of the theater. We applied for an received a National Trust grant to rehabilitate the theater's windows. Our project finished on time and under budget in November!
We continue to assist homeowners to advise them on restoring their historic properties.
Celebrate
We capped off November at the Boulder Theater with a Ribbon-Cutting celebrating the completion of the façade project.
During Preservation Month in May, we co-hosted the Square Nail Awards at Chautauqua. Our member appreciation party was held at an amazing home in North Boulder which was formerly a barn and a church.
Our biennial Ghost Walk Ghost Talk featured the historic Odd Fellows Hall, the Carnegie Library and four historic homes in Mapleton Hill. We will finish the year with our ‘Homes for the Holidays’ tour featuring six homes in the Newlands neighborhood along with the Historic Newlands Mansion.
Historic Boulder Inc. was founded 54 years ago in response to the impending demolition of three historic properties: the Central School, Boulder Railroad Depot, and the Highland School. Members raised funds for the purchase of the Highland School, which was subsequently landmarked and sold to private developers. Today it is thriving as a unique office co-share center. With Historic Boulder's help in acquiring the depot, the Boulder Jaycees found a new site, moved, and renovated the building. It serves as an anchor to a newer higher density neighborhood. Unfortunately, the Central School was demolished.
Out of these preservation efforts, Historic Boulder, Inc. began the advocacy for a landmark ordinance which was accomplished in 1974. Since then, over 220 individual landmarks have been created and 10 historic districts designated. Historic Boulder continues our preservation efforts as a member-driven, non-profit to protect and promote historic places that shape the vital cultural and economic spirit of Boulder. Please help us with your generous support.
Organization name
Historic Boulder, Inc.
other names
HBI
1972
Tax id (EIN)
23-7223041
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
1200 Pearl Street, Suite 314Headquarters
1200 Pearl Street, Suite 314Mailing
1200 Pearl Street, Suite 314Boulder County, CO, US