“Preservation is not about the past, it’s about the future.”

May is Historic Preservation Month — a time dedicated to celebrating our history and heritage through historic places. Each May and year-round, local heritage organizations like the Tread of Pioneers Museum and Historic Routt County join together with Main Street Steamboat Springs, the city of Steamboat Springs and others to honor the special places that shape the character and authenticity of Routt County, and encourage historic preservation.

New this year, both the Tread of Pioneers Museum and Historic Routt County are working with local historic property owners to place “History Lives Here” signs around the city and county. These signs will be placed alongside reflective pinwheels placed by the city to draw visual awareness around the importance of preservation.

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“We hope to remind people that these historic places add tremendous value and authenticity to our community. Historic places are our past and our future,” said Candice Bannister, executive director of the Tread of Pioneers Museum. “Historic structures not only represent our history, they also foster community pride, promote heritage tourism and reveal real social and economic benefits for today’s communities. Historic buildings are our community’s largest and most visible artifacts, no less deserving of care and preservation as the most treasured items in a museum’s collection.

“But we must remember, preserving history and historical properties is intentional, it is a choice, and it takes action. As a community, government leaders and policy makers, and individual property owners, we all must work together to save our heritage.”

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The historic buildings on Lincoln Avenue, in Old Town, and throughout the county, provide valuable context and connection to our past. While Steamboat Springs did not develop as a result of large mineral mining booms and does not boast the grand and ornate buildings of some other storied mountain towns like Aspen and Leadville, our built environment reveals our own intriguing and modest history that is worthy of celebration and preservation.

Steamboat’s heritage is what makes our town unique, competitive and memorable in the resort marketplace, and an extraordinary place to live and visit. Our irreplaceable heritage and historic resources are ultimately at risk without increased measures from our city government to protect these places.

Care of our historic resources is intentional

Any historic building (one that is 50 years old or more, whether identified as significant or not) is at risk of being demolished, unless voluntarily listed by the owner on the local Steamboat Springs register. The result is what we are witnessing now: As demand rises, property sales and values soar, buildings that contribute to the identity of our community are being demolished or dramatically altered at an alarming rate.

Currently, voluntary listing to the city’s Steamboat Springs historical register is the only way to truly ensure protection of the town’s historic resources. Thanks to the stewardship of caring property owners across the county, and the ongoing advocacy efforts of preservation organizations and dedicated volunteers, some of our cherished historic places and landmarks are still standing.

The Tread of Pioneers Museum serves as an advocate for historic preservation, and provides education and resources to encourage the preservation of Steamboat’s character, authenticity, and heritage that is showcased through the built environment. Historic Routt County is the award-winning nonprofit organization that partners with the community to document and safeguard Routt County’s irreplaceable historic structures and unique landscapes through advocacy, preservation assistance, and education.

What you can do

You can join the cause by supporting these organizations, cherishing our local heritage, maintaining and preserving for your historic property, and voicing your support of historic preservation and community character directly to city and county elected officials and in community surveys. If you need assistance listing your historic property, for the city of Steamboat Springs Register of Historic Places, contact Caitlin Berube-Smith at cberubesmith@steamboatsprings.net, and for the Routt County Register, contact Kristen Rockford at Historic Routt County at kristen@historicrouttcounty.org. Both organizations can work with historic property owners on ways to achieve the owners’ needs and goals, while maintaining the historic character of the structure.

Historic Preservation Month events around the county

• Women’s High Tea at the Soroco High School Commons in Oak Creek — at 1:30-4 p.m. May 5, a free event featuring a “History Lives Here” talk by Arianthé Stettner from Historic Routt County.
• Hayden Hoedown at the Hayden Granary — at 6:30 p.m. May 11, a donation-based community barn dance benefitting Historic Routt County, Historic Hayden Granary and the Hayden Heritage Center.
• Downtown Historical Walking Tour of Steamboat Springs — at noon May 23 (presented by the Tread of Pioneers Museum)
• Learn about historic places in your community — SteamboatSprings.net/244/Steamboat-Springs-Register-of-Historic-P

“In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy.” —John Sawhill.