Historic Preservation
 Historic preservation in America was once simply the purchase and
restoration of historical figures' homes and buildings where significant
historical events occurred. But times have changed. An increasingly
complex society and troubled environment compel us to revalue the
trade-offs between growth and preservation. Along with every land
subdivision, new office complex and roadway connecting to the larger metro
area, the marks of early human settlement and the way of life
characteristic of an earlier Boulder County is rapidly disappearing. Piece
by piece, acre by acre, board by board, the heritage of the place we call
home is being compromised.
With the adoption of Boulder County's Historic Preservation Program on
September 29, 1992, County Commissioners, clearly stated that our heritage
is worthy of our protection for future generations. But how does Parks and
Open Space decide what is historical, what techniques do they use, and
where can we see some of these restored buildings.
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What is Historic Preservation on Open Space? |
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On several of our open space properties, we
have tangible links to the rich history of mining, ranching and
everyday life in the West - the barns, hard work, clever
ingenuity, personal success, as well as business failure. Through
research, planning and proactive maintenance, we have restored
several remnants of early life in Boulder County. |
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How
does the County decide what is historical? |
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An original, intact structure or landscape more
than 50 years old is considered historical. Research of hardware,
design, upkeep, and written and oral descriptions provide useful
dating information. |
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What
techniques are used to restore old buildings? |
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With reliable construction and usage dates
established, appropriate restoration efforts can prolong the
stability and educational value of a structure. An important
component of restoration is to use materials and sometimes even
methods from earlier time periods. |
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Where
can we see some of these old structures? |
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Visitors to Boulder County's open space can
view and explore historical structures and landscapes. There are
ranching homesteads at Hall Ranch and Betasso Preserve and an old
sawmill at the Meyers Homestead at Walker Ranch. The Walker Ranch
Homestead is probably our best known site and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. The Walker
Ranch Special Event, which portrays frontier life in the
1880s, is held the last two Sundays in September. |
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