Community Celebrates With Proclamation, Preservation Efforts, Free Events & More
The City of Steamboat Springs and its historical partners kicked off May with a proclamation designating May as Historic Preservation Month during the Tuesday evening City Council meeting on May 6, 2025.
“Whether it is the views to Howelsen Hill, Mt. Werner, a stop in a local coffee or bookstore, or the oral histories passed down from long-time locals to first time visitors – our local history is what makes Steamboat Springs special to each of us, in different ways,” said Historic Preservation Planner Caitlin Berube-Smith. “Recognizing that history and culture are intertwined, it’s the contributions from our past that shape our future and assist molding the present.”
This year’s national theme is Harnessing the Power of Place and celebrates how the preservation of tangible and intangible histories translates into strengthening a sense of heritage, inspiring wonder, and connecting shared identities through community-based placemaking.
Preservation Month began as National Preservation Week in 1973. The National Trust extended the celebration to include the entire month of May in 2005, creating the opportunity to promote historic places while highlighting the heritage of the country’s cities and states.
It is important to recognize the role of history in our lives and the contributions of local Indigenous Nations following their traditional presence in these native homelands. As a people and community preserving all aspects of our shared heritage will continue to shape the place, we call – Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley.
The Tread of Pioneers Museum, Historic Routt County and the city are working with local historic property owners to place “History Lives Here!” signs around the community. Enjoy Historic Preservation Day at the Wildhorse Theater, where preservation themed movies will be featured on May 17. The Tread of Pioneers Museum and Ute Tribe showcase the annual Ute Powwow on May 19.
Later in the month, celebrate preservation month with a FREE historical walking tour of downtown Steamboat Springs on May 22 starting at noon from the Tread of Pioneers Museum. You might not know that Downtown Steamboat Springs, including the original town site established in 1884, is part of a prestigious community of national historic districts throughout the United States. The district is an approximately six city-block area along Lincoln Avenue, roughly bounded by 5th and 11th Streets.
Earlier this year, the city laid the first cornerstone in the development of its inaugural Historic Preservation Plan, which is vital to improving historic preservation across the community. The plan is financed in part by a grant from the State Historical Fund, and will advance local preservation by articulating community supported preservation goals, initiatives, short to long-range milestones, and measurements for success
As part of preservation celebrations, the city will announce award recipients in the inaugural ‘Spur Preservation’ Awards toward the end of the month.