Official Visitor Info

Historic Places & Districts

If you want to see how Colorado has developed over the years, look no further than its architecture. The entrepreneurial spirit of its residents, combined with a quick and diverse rise in population, has created an eclectic mix of buildings with overlapping architectural time periods.

 

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A multi-story brick building is lit up against the dark backdrop of the evening sky in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Grand Junction
Rugged ridges dotted with trees surround the cozy town of Ouray. Fluffy, white clouds fill the bright-blue sky overhead.
Ouray
Two log cabins stand in a green field at the base of a steep, forested mountainside in the Ashcroft ghost town.
Remains from the ghost town of Ashcroft near Aspen
Two hikers dressed in long pants and sweaters roam the abandoned town of St. Elmo, near Nathrop, Colorado.
St. Elmo ghost town near Nathrop
The sun shines brightly on the streets of Central City. Beautiful red-brick buildings and Victorian homes line the block.
The historic mining town of Central City
A wooden wagon with a white canvas cover is parked outside a clay building at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site near La Junta.
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site near La Junta
Painted, wooden wagons sit outside a white mercantile building at the Old Town Museum in Burlington, Colorado.
Old Town Museum in Burlington
A tour group is stopped on an ornately carved wood staircase, listening to a period actor at the Molly Brown House Museum in Denver.
A tour of the Molly Brown House Museum in Denver
A tall church, featuring two towers with red, decorative brickwork, sits on an immaculate green lawn in Conejos, Colorado.
Our Lady of Guadalupe church in Conejos
A group of children wave and smile from a vintage vehicle on a tour of the Historic Centennial Village Museum in Greeley.
Tours of the Historic Centennial Village Museum in Greeley
People enjoy the warm weather by dining on an outside terrace in Old Town in Fort Collins.
Alfresco dining in Old Town Fort Collins
A small white building is set beside trees in orange fall foliage in Golden, Colorado. In the distance are rugged mountain peaks.
Clear Creek History Park in Golden, Colorado
Bright yellow, red and purple metal flowers are on display in front of the boutiques in historic, old Colorado City.
Shopping in Historic Old Colorado City

The majority of the state’s structures were built beginning in the mid-1800s. However, there are architectural styles that are outside this time period. Newcomers to the state had an opportunity to build homes, in addition to commercial and civic buildings in styles that reflected their communities. This has led to very eclectic styles that can be seen all across the state.

Some of the best places to see this is in Colorado’s historic districts, many of which can be found in mountain and ski towns that were originally founded for mining purposes. Today, these historic districts are lined with coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and more. Many have mine tours that help you explore our Gold Rush roots.

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