Cultural History
 Protecting,
restoring and interpreting Boulder County's cultural resources for the
education and enjoyment of future generations.
The
imprint of people that have shaped Boulder County has been as diverse as
the land forms themselves. The Apaches, Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes
inhabited eastern Boulder County until 1867.
Whites of European descent came to exploit Boulder County's natural
resources: beaver, bison, gold, silver and coal and with them those who
set up towns to supply them and ship their wares to market. Following the
Homestead Act of 1862, many came to live on ranches and farms. African
Americans and Asians came later.
Until recently, the remnants of their settlements could be found in
many places in Boulder County. As time goes on, however, Boulder County
loses more and more of the archaeological and historical sites that give
us a tie to the past. Many of these sites are being purposely destroyed
while others slowly erode away. Encroaching development has created an
urgency to preserve these significant sites.
On September 29, 1992, County Commissioners adopted regulations
creating Boulder County's Historic Preservation Program, the first of its
kind in the state. The program is individualized for Boulder County and
makes every effort to identify and protect prehistoric and historic sites
using a combination of education and incentives rather than stringent
regulations.
 Parks and Open Space operates and maintains the Agricultural
Heritage Center at the Lohr/McIntosh Farm. The center highlights many
aspects of Boulder County's agricultural
history and development from the late 1890s
to 1925.
Preservation Board
The Historic Preservation
Advisory Board, whose members come from the agricultural, mining and
professional communities, is the referral agency for all land-use
proposals where possible impact to an historical or archaeological site
may occur. They meet the first Thursday evening of each month.
Boulder County also provides the option of obtaining Landmark
Designations for either properties or the buildings on a property.
For more information about historic preservation in Boulder County,
please contact Carol Beam at
(303) 678-6272.
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