SHF Awards More Than $7 Million in Grants

Originally published in Colorado History NOW, March/April 2008

The State Historical Fund has awarded sixty grants for historic preservation totaling $7,124,311 for the second competitive grant round of Fiscal Year 2008.  Many of the recipients across Colorado are engaged in projects to provide educational benefits to communities.

Among the new and continuing grant projects are the Drennan Community School Building in rural El Paso County, the Fowler Park School, the Avon Hotel in Silverton, and the Fruita Bridge.

The Drennan School preservation project is keeping a piece of early 1900s history in use for both older and newer residents to take pride in.  The 1905 Fowler Park School will be rehabilitated as a municipal building, fueled by sustainable “green” technology.  The stately 1904 Avon Hotel will be purchased by the Mountain Studies Institute, a research and education organization that studies air quality, climate and ecology.  The 1907 Fruita Bridge spans the Colorado River, forming an historic transportation link between the town of Fruita and points south.  Named to Colorado Preservation Inc.’s Colorado’s Most Endangered List, it is the only remaining three-span Parker through-truss bridge in Colorado.

“Learning about our history and heritage becomes a powerful educational experience when people can explore and touch the actual built environment from our past,” said Mark Wolfe, director of the State Historical Fund.

The State Historical Fund will support the third year of the Explore Colorado program, a multimedia partnership between the National Trust and KUSA Channel 9 to promote Colorado’s authentic historic sites to visitors.  This year the Explore Colorado website on 9News.com will be available to heritage tourists year-round.  The State Historical Fund has supported the preservation and interpretation of hundreds of heritage tourism destinations in Colorado since 1993.

Archaeology projects statewide are opening the worlds of pre-history to visitors.  Mesa Verde National Park will be the site of a study of backcountry cliff dwellings and culturally modified trees.  Historic public buildings that are being rehabilitated and restored include the 1874 Georgetown School, the 1911 La Jara Town Hall, and the 1917 Pueblo City Hall.

“These historic sites connect us with our history and heritage,” said Wolfe.  “The cultural benefits of saving these places can be measured in terms of pride in our heritage, which is being passed on to future generations.  The economic benefits to communities come in the form of increased tourism, more jobs, and a boon for local businesses.  Historic preservation is a win-win proposition for everybody.”

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