Travel Tips & Trends

Gambling dollars preserve Colorado history

When limited-stakes gaming was legalized in Colorado, a portion of the revenue was earmarked for historic preservation projects. Since 1993, more than 3,000 projects in 64 Colorado counties have received grants from casino tax revenue through the State Historical Fund.

Since 2003, the Governor's Award for Historic Preservation has been awarded yearly to the best of these projects. Five of the six award-winners to date are heritage tourism sites.

Beaumont Hotel and Spa, Ouray

The Beaumont Hotel opened in 1887, with French-inspired architecture that included a skylight, grand staircase and interior balconies opening into the hotel's atrium. Guests in its heyday included Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Sarah Bernhardt and King Leopold of Belgium.

Later abandoned and dilapidated, the building underwent a massive five-year renovation project starting in 1998 and now operates once again as a hotel. The Beaumont received the Governor's Award in 2003.

Dora Moore School, Denver

Designed by Denver's first licensed architect, Robert S. Roeschlaub, the Dora Moore School was built in 1889. The building is Romanesque Revival style and is located at the corner of 9th and Corona. It still operates as a school today, thanks to the State Historical Fund Grant which enabled its restoration, but can be viewed from the street. It received the Governor's Award in 2004.

Victor City Hall, Victor

Victor was home to some of Colorado's richest gold mines, including the Portland, the Independence, the Gold Coin and the Strong Mines. A visitors center and museum are now housed in the historic City Hall, along with council chambers and offices. Victor City Hall was dedicated in 1900 and received the Governor's Award in 2005.

Trinity United Methodist Church,

Denver Another Robert Roeschlaub design, this church was formally dedicated in 1888. In 2000, it was found to have structural problems. A State Historical Fund grant was used for restoration and the finished project received the Governor's Award in 2006.

Kit Carson County Carousel, Burlington

This well-known attraction, open in summer, was originally manufactured for Elitch Gardens in 1905 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Because the carousel is stationary (the animals go around, but not up and down) it can operate faster than normal, at 12 mph. The average carousel speed is 8 mph. The carousel was sold to Kit Carson County in 1928 and operated at the county fairgrounds until 1976, with a hiatus from 1931-37 when the fair closed due to the Great Depression. An initial restoration began in 1976, and a second restoration began in 1996 and was completed in 1999. The carousel received the Governor's Award in 2007.

Animas City School, Durango

The recipient of this year's Governor's Award is the oldest remaining school building in Animas County. A 30-year restoration project, the Romanesque/Italianate building was a school for three generations of students. It now serves as the Animas Museum.