On July 11th the Steamboat Springs Downtown National Register Historic District was approved and listed by the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown Steamboat Springs now joins a prestigious community of national historic districts throughout the United States. As such, contributing properties within the district may be eligible for tax credits for qualifying investments in restoration and maintenance, as well as grants from the Colorado State Historical Fund.
The attraction of a national historic district is a proven benefit to increased tourism as well as local investment. The benefits of the district are entirely based in financial incentives and marketing opportunities. The district places no limitation on what property owners may do with their property.
The Steamboat Springs Downtown Historic District is an approximately six city-block area along Lincoln Avenue, roughly bounded by 5th and 11th Streets. Steamboat Springs’ National Register Historic District includes 51 resources with 35 contributing buildings.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. These contribute to an understanding of the historical and cultural foundations of the nation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. The National Park Service provides overall program administration. The office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society, administers the register in Colorado. In Colorado there are over 1,500 properties listed in the National Register. Properties listed in the National or State Registers may be eligible for investment tax credits or for grants from the State Historical fund, another program of History Colorado.
For more information you can call Tyler Gibbs, the Planning and Community Development Director for the City of Steamboat Springs at 970-879-2060, or the National Register staff at the office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation at 303-866-3392.