Historic Downtown
Steamboat Springs, Colorado (population 6,700), was first settled in 1874. Settlers were drawn by more than 150 thermal mineral springs in the vicinity, and by the early 1900s the town also become a center for winter sports. Today the Tread of the Pioneers museum educates visitors and residents about the local history of Native American Utes, explorers, traders, prospectors, and pioneers, as well as the development of the ranching, mining and skiing industries. more info
Steamboat Springs has been very active in preserving and restoring important historic buildings through public/private partnerships. This has been great for the local community as well as visitors.
An outstanding example is the restoration and adaptive reuse of the Carver Power Plant, an empty industrial building, as the focal point of the city's Centennial Hall, a new community facility in the heart of the historic downtown.
This project created needed community office and meeting space, provided space for a new café, and enabled the city to visibly promote historic preservation in the community.
The city has collected survey information on approximately 256 buildings in the core commercial and residential area of historic Old Town, as well as many surrounding ranches and their historic structures.
Each of the city's master planning documents includes a section on historic preservation, illustrating the city's commitment to preserving its cultural, historic, and architectural heritage as a source of civic pride. Moreover, it is an essential component of encouraging tourism and economic development, the two often going hand in hand.
The Rock Creek Stage Stop, once listed on Colorado Preservation, Inc.'s most endangered places list, is another local asset that has recently been saved through concerted action.
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