The Tread of Pioneers Museum submitted nominations to the Steamboat Springs Register of Historic Places for both houses comprising the museum — the Campbell/Zimmerman and Seymour/Utterback houses on Eighth and Oak streets. Arianthe Stettner of Historic Routt County prepared the nominations.

The city’s Historic Preservation Commission will review the application on Nov. 4.

The Campbell/Zimmerman house, originally located on Fifth and Oak streets, was built in 1901 by Earnest Campbell. The Queen Anne-style home features unique half-timbered gables. In 1914, Campbell sold the house to Edward H. Zimmerman, manager of the local Mutual Telephone Exchange and later the Yampa Valley Mill and Elevator Company. Edward and Mary Zimmerman and their four children lived in the house until 1956 when the county purchased it.

In 1959, the Tread of Pioneers Museum opened to the public in the Campbell/Zimmerman house at its original location next to the Routt County courthouse. Nearly 30 years later, when the county needed the land under the house, they gifted the home to the museum under the condition that it be moved to an alternate location. The museum board then purchased a new lot at Eighth and Oak, moved the house to the present site, began renovation and built additional exhibit galleries.

Sixty-five years later, the Campbell/Zimmerman house remains the heart of the Tread of Pioneers Museum.

The Seymour/Utterback House was built in 1898 on Fourth and Oak streets, by C.A. Seymour, manager of the J.W. Hugus & Co. mercantile. Using local lumber, the rectangular wood-framed building has unique features including intersecting gables and a widow’s walk. In 1944, the John A. Utterback family purchased the house as a town residence for the winter months. Utterback family members lived in the house for over 50 years. 

In 1997, after her father John “Doc” Utterback’s passing, Karin Utterback-Normann donated the house to expand the Tread of Pioneers Museum. The house was moved to Eighth and Oak to join the existing buildings and renovated to better serve the public as a museum. 

Both historic homes, which are already on the honorary Routt County Register, are now integral parts of the museum operations and exhibits. They showcase local craftsmanship and materials and serve as tributes to the rural pioneer families whose work and leadership are significant in the development of Routt County.

The register application’s Statement of Significance states: The structures meet the designation criteria for Significance in History (association with a significant place, person, culture, character, or event in history) and Architecture (style, type, architect, and/or builder).

The buildings reflect the evolving history of early residential neighborhoods and the citizens of Steamboat Springs. 

Although the buildings were relocated when the previous owners gifted them to the Tread of Pioneers Museum, the buildings continue to evoke association, materials, feeling, design and workmanship of turn-of-the-19th century residences and retain Oak Street’s historic context.

Additionally, the house’s most recent history and association with the museum organization focused on collecting, preserving, educating and celebrating the history and heritage of Steamboat Springs and Routt County, further strengthening the buildings’ significance. 

For more information on celebrating the history and preservation of our community’s buildings, or to nominate and protect your property through the Steamboat Springs Register, contact HistoricRouttCounty.org or Caitlin Berube-Smith at cberubesmith@steamboatsprings.net.