PRESS CONTACT:
Angelika Albaladejo, Communications and Public Relations Manager
720-541-2334 | hc_media@state.co.us

 

The most recent preservation projects receiving State Historical Fund grants span the state – representing diverse and underrepresented communities, promoting economic development, and strengthening the pipeline of skilled workers in the preservation trades.

“Preservation is not just about safeguarding historic buildings, it is about people, opportunity, and place,” said Marcie Moore Gantz, director of the State Historical Fund. “This round of funding prioritizes projects that elevate hidden histories, support rural prosperity, and invest in the preservation workforce that keeps Colorado’s historic places active and relevant for generations to come.”

Since its founding in 1991, the State Historical Fund has awarded more than 5,500 grants, totaling nearly $400 million in funding for historic preservation across Colorado. These preservation efforts help protect the stories and places Coloradans cherish, and directly boost the economic health of the Centennial State. Since 1981, preservation efforts in Colorado have created more than 27,000 jobs and generated more than $3.9 billion in direct and indirect economic impacts, adding at least $2.2 billion to Colorado’s GDP. 

The State Historical Fund’s most recent investments in preservation efforts include 13 mini grants totaling more than $500,000 and 21 general grants totaling nearly $4.8 million, as well as three workforce grants totaling nearly $750,000. 

The State Historical Fund will begin accepting letters of intent for its upcoming grant round beginning February 1. Letters of intent are submitted on a rolling basis but must be received no later than fourteen calendar days before the grant round deadlines on April 1, 2026 and October 1, 2026. New applicants are encouraged to connect with State Historical Fund staff early to discuss project eligibility and readiness. Contact hc_shf@state.co.us.

The State Historical Fund shares its complete list of grant recipients here. The following projects are highlights from the most recent round of funding. 

Grant Highlights:

Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center | Las Animas County

The Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, which operates out of an historic church building in Trinidad, will receive $250,000 to rehabilitate its crumbling bell tower. This grant will fund reconstruction that retains and preserves the historic character of the original bell tower.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, which served Italian American and Spanish-speaking churchgoers from 1907 to 1998, was only the second Catholic church built in Trinidad. Designed by the prominent architectural firm of Isaac H. and William M. Rapp, the building is a well-preserved example of Romanesque Revival style religious construction. 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church closed in 1998, after 91 years of service. As the property sat vacant, it fell into disrepair. By 2006, the chapel roof caved in. Jay Cimino, a Trinidad native and former altar boy at Mount Carmel, and his wife Emily Cimino bought the property in 2007 and after intensive research into the needs of the community, renovated and repurposed the church.

By 2010, the building reopened as a 501c3 nonprofit. But an earthquake the following year revealed significant damage to the bell tower, which has continued to deteriorate.

Today, Mt. Carmel provides integrated healthcare and wellness services and builds community partnerships that attract business, cultural and social opportunities to the neighborhood. Mt Carmel partners with Salud Family Health Center to provide medical, dental and behavioral health services to thousands of people each year, including many indigent and underrepresented community members.

“The Mt. Carmel building is a living testament to the history of the Trinidad community, the resilience of its people, and the vitality of the region,” said Ashley DiPaola, the Director of Operations at Mt. Carmel Health and Wellness Center. “Rehabilitating the bell tower is going to bring a great amount of attention to the facility and the importance of historic preservation. The rebirth of the abandoned and ruined Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church into Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center speaks to the value of historic preservation of local history and how transformation can also lead to economic development and community benefit through new programs in old places.”

Wyatt Academy | Denver County

Wyatt Academy – previously known as The George W. Wyatt Elementary School, The Hyde Park School, and The Wyatt Edison Charter School – is partnering with Historic Denver Inc. to receive $250,000 to rehabilitate the school’s masonry and windows. 

Wyatt Academy is designated as an individual landmark in Denver. The school was built in 1889 with a large red brick arch, heavy masonry walls, hipped roofs, terra cotta embellishments, and a grand three-story tower and adjacent turret. The Richardsonian Romanesque style building is one of the few remaining examples of schools designed by Denver's first licensed architect, Robert Roeschlaub.

Wyatt Academy will partner with Historic Denver Inc. to use its grant to rehabilitate century-old masonry and the roof’s sheet metal cornice, as well as replace ill-fitting non-historic windows. 

This Denver Public Schools charter school is in the Cole neighborhood and serves several adjacent communities as well as others across Denver. Principal Melody Means guides the school with a vision that combines academic rigor with a sense of belonging and equity for diverse learners, including many Spanish speakers. 

The school plans to honor the building’s architectural beauty and cultural significance while allowing today’s students and families to see themselves as caretakers of their community’s legacy. School staff will collect community memories from this rehabilitation project for inclusion in the school's existing display of historical artifacts and stories in the main office.

“For over a century, Wyatt has been a place where children feel safe, families feel supported, and neighbors feel connected,” said Lyle Whitney, President of the Wyatt Board of Trustees. “This restoration will ensure that the building’s walls, windows, and stories continue to inspire generations to come—and that students leave this experience with a richer understanding of their school’s history, Denver’s architectural heritage, and the importance of preserving community landmarks.”

Grover Depot | Weld County

In the rural Eastern Plains town of Grover, the nonprofit Pawnee Historical Society owns and operates the historic Grover Depot as a museum. The Grover Depot is a two-story rectangular frame building with a gable roof built by the Burlington Railroad Company in 1887. The Pawnee Historical Society will receive $229,081 to complete foundation stabilization started under a previous grant.

The Grover Depot is listed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. As a museum, the building represents the significance of rail transportation for the founding, growth, and long-term survival of many Colorado agricultural towns like Grover. The museum serves an expansive rural area and holds artifacts and historical information about farming and ranching communities in the towns of Hereford, Grover, Keota, Sligo, Coleman, West Pawnee, Gerry Valley, and Hilltop.

With its new State Historical Fund grant, the Pawnee Historical Society will complete foundation stabilization that includes replacing deteriorated wood sill timber, repointing the masonry grade beam and attaching the studs and floor framing to the new sill timber. This work will prevent the exterior walls from bowing outwards and stabilize the entire building. This grant will also include window and door restoration.

“Our communities are a hands-on group of people. We have taken care of and maintained this building since we obtained ownership in the mid-1970s,” said Tanya Wahlert, President of the Pawnee Historical Society. “Because of the deterioration of the building, the cost of rehabilitation is beyond the means of the community. This grant will sustain the momentum in preserving and teaching the history of Grover and other nearby small rural communities.”

Grand Junction Union Depot | Mesa County

The Grand Junction Union Depot, a significant western Colorado landmark, will soon be transformed into a once-again vibrant commercial and transportation hub. The Grand Junction Downtown Development Authority will receive $250,000 to complete the first major phase of construction toward reopening Union Depot. By focusing on roof replacement, gutter repair, and utility installation, this grant will help address the most urgent needs to stabilize and prepare the building for the future.

The Grand Junction Union Depot was built in 1906 by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company. The depot was instrumental in expanding the standard gauge railroad system and transforming Grand Junction from a pioneer settlement into a thriving regional hub. As the largest station between Denver and Salt Lake City, the depot symbolizes the central role of railroads in western expansion, commerce, and community development.

The building was continuously used by the railroad until 1991. Following its closure, community advocacy – led by the City of Grand Junction and a local “Save the Depot” campaign – secured its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the past three decades, the Grand Junction Union Depot has endured long periods of vacancy, stalled projects, and ownership changes. In 2010, Colorado Preservation, Inc. placed the depot on its Most Endangered Places list.

The Union Depot’s current owners, Veronica Sanchez and Dustin Anzures, alongside tenant-operators Matthew Brooks and Aaron Harris, are partnering with the Grand Junction Downtown Development Authority and other interested parties to preserve and redevelop the building. Their vision for Union Depot’s redevelopment draws inspiration from Denver’s successful Union Station revitalization. The restored depot aims to welcome rail travelers and locals alike to a variety of food, beverage, and retail offerings – directly supporting heritage tourism and economic development.

The Union Depot’s grand reopening is targeted for April 17, 2027 – the depot’s 121st birthday. Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration are currently considering resurrecting the Pioneer and Desert Wind routes, which would position the newly reopened Union Depot as an active hub in Colorado’s statewide rail network.

“In both design and history, the Grand Junction Union Depot is significant for its architectural quality, transportation legacy, and cultural resonance,” said Brandon Stam, Director of the Grand Junction Downtown Development Authority. “The Union Depot’s preservation will not only protect a rare architectural treasure but also amplify the community’s history of growth, diversity, and connection to the national rail network.” 

Saving Places Conference | Denver County

Colorado Preservation, Inc. will receive a $250,000 grant to advance preservation trades and workforce development through Colorado’s largest statewide preservation gathering.

Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s Saving Places Conference has brought together preservation professionals, community leaders, tradespeople, educators, and policymakers across Colorado and beyond for almost 30 years. The conference provides education, networking opportunities, and training sessions that strengthen historic preservation efforts across the state.

With this grant from the State Historical Fund, the Saving Places Conferences in 2026 and 2027 will increasingly focus on developing Colorado’s preservation workforce by providing a meeting ground where industry leaders can share best practices, build partnerships, and create new pathways for training and employment.

Preservation trades require extensive hands-on learning, mentorship, and practice. Currently, Colorado faces a preservation workforce crisis marked by an aging workforce, limited access to training, and barriers for underrepresented communities. Because preservation contributes to local economies through rehabilitation projects, downtown revitalization, heritage tourism, and small business development, workforce challenges may have economic consequences.

Colorado Preservation, Inc. plans to raise awareness about preservation career paths, actively recruit attendees from rural and urban areas, and connect preservation workers with training and apprenticeship programs to ensure these workforce development efforts reach all corners of the state.

“A diverse and well-prepared preservation workforce supports the upkeep of historic districts, contributes to public knowledge about the importance of preservation work in sustaining Colorado’s diverse cultural heritage, and preserves the stories and landmarks of groups often overlooked in preservation efforts,” said Jennifer Orrigo Charles, Executive Director of Colorado Preservation, Inc. “By hosting sessions on preservation career pathways, hands-on training opportunities, and industry networking, Colorado Preservation, Inc. is ensuring that workforce development remains a priority for the preservation industry while helping connect existing workforce programs with those who need them most.”

 

About the State Historical Fund

The State Historical Fund, led by History Colorado, identifies, catalyzes, and supports historic preservation and archaeology projects across the state. This work benefits Colorado communities, cultures, economies, and the environment. The State Historical Fund was created in 1990 by a constitutional amendment legalizing gambling in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. The Limited Gaming Act of 1991 (CRS 44-30-1201) requires that a portion of gaming tax revenue be allocated to the State Historical Fund for historic preservation projects throughout Colorado. The State Historical Fund is one of the most significant forces behind preserving Colorado’s history and a catalyst for strengthening communities statewide. The State Historical Fund provides grants that protect, sustain, and breathe new life into Colorado's places and stories. Since its establishment, the State Historical Fund has significantly enriched communities in both urban and rural areas across the state, fostering notable economic impact and growth. Projects range from planning and research studies to designation and preservation of historic buildings, archaeological sites, and historic places. Statewide projects are identified and completed with a focus on equity, diversity, vitality, and resilience. These projects rehabilitate historic buildings and infuse them with new energy while honoring the important stories and places that make Colorado unique.

About History Colorado

History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served more than 75,000 students and 500,000 people in Colorado each year. It is a 146-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation which provides technical assistance, educational opportunities, and other access to archaeology and historic preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is one of the nation’s largest state funded preservation programs of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas of the state. Additionally, the offices of the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Officer are part of History Colorado. 

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving and sharing the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through educational programs, historic preservation grants, collecting, outreach to Colorado communities, the History Colorado Center and Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver, and 10 other museums and historic attractions statewide. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado