• Happy Independence Day! Take part in the Independence Day Community Celebration on July 4, 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m., at Fort Collins City Park. This year honors 250 years of America as a nation and 150 years of Colorado statehood — a milestone moment to reflect, connect and celebrate together as a community. For an event schedule, map, and details, visit the event page. For more events related to 250/150, see "2026: A Year of Conversations" below.
• History of Tourism in Estes Park - July 25, time TBD, Estes Park Museum - 200 4th St.
  • Historic Larimer County (HLC) invites you to join Susan Quinnell and Rebekah Schields for an exploration of how Colorado's mountain landscapes were transformed into destinations that millions of visitors now enjoy. Quinnell will discuss the Estes Park area, examining labor, infrastructure, and rustic architecture, exploring the stories of planning and stewardship behind every scenic vista, trail, and mountain retreat. Schields will discuss the influence of Mission 66, a major National Park Service initiative to modernize and expand visitor facilities in America's national parks ahead of the agency's 50th anniversary in 1966. This program introduced a new generation of visitor centers, roads, and other facilities to accommodate the boom in auto tourism. For more information and to register, visit HLC's event page.

Are you the owner of a Fort Collins Landmark property?

Contact Historic Preservation Services (Preservation@FortCollins.gov; 970-224-6078) to learn more about financial support programs and for information on required design review of exterior alterations. Please remember that all exterior projects, including painting, require pre-approval and work that does not meet City code requirements is considered a violation and is subject to citation. We are here to help with project planning and look forward to hearing from you prior to the start of work!

Last Month's Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Decisions

The June HPC meeting was canceled due to lack of business.

• A Year of Conversations: In 2026, the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, and Colorado celebrates 150 years of statehood. The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (FCMoD) and the City of Fort Collins invite the community to engage in learning, discourse, and the democratic process throughout the year with this event series, "A Year of Conversations." Upcoming events include:
  • Faith 250 Celebration – July 11, 4-6 p.m., Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (408 Mason Ct.)
    • For details and registration link, visit the event series page.
  • Heritage Courtyard Open House – July 25, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Center for Creativity (200 Mathews St.)
    • More info coming soon on the event series page. 

“Caring for the Land and Serving People”: Historic U.S. Forest Service Buildings in Fort Collins

With summer in full swing, you may be planning to spend some time in nature, perhaps in the nearby Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Established in 1905, the Forest Service provides leadership in “conservation, use, and stewardship of natural and cultural resources on national forests and grasslands in the United States,” stewarding about 900 million acres across the country (Forest Service, “About the Agency”). Fort Collins has been home to Forest Service offices for over a century.

Shortly after the establishment of the Forest Service, Fort Collins became the headquarters for the Colorado National Forest. After briefly losing that honor to Estes Park, in 1908, Forest Supervisor, H.N. Wheeler moved back to Fort Collins, occupying offices in the Forrester Block (named for Cassel C. Forrester) at 200 Walnut St. (“National Forest Offices Here,” Fort Collins Express, May 27, 1908). Soon after the construction of the Post Office building at 201 S. College Ave. in 1912, the Forest Service offices moved into its upstairs offices.

Over the years, the presence of the Forest Service expanded in Fort Collins with the addition of several dedicated buildings. For example, between 1936 and 1937, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the Fort Collins Supervisor’s Warehouse or Poudre Garage at 148 Remington St. The work of the CCC enabled extraordinary expansion of the Forest Service’s administration during the New Deal era. The Forest Service had typically adopted the Rustic style of architecture for its buildings to represent their work, but this building, set in an urban environment, departed from that tradition with an Art Deco design by W. Earle Jackson and S.A. Axtens. This building remained in use by the Roosevelt National Forest administration until 1993.

In 1965, the Forest Service constructed another building at 240 W. Prospect Rd., near the Colorado State University campus. This Modern Movements style structure was designed by architects Baume and Polinvick. In 1969, the agency’s finance office moved to Fort Collins, and likely occupied this building. Today, the Rocky Mountain Research Station is based in this building, a regional unit of the Forest Service whose research seeks to improve the health and the use of national forests and grasslands.

The Forrester Building at 200 Walnut St. is historically designated on the State/National Registers and as a Fort Collins Landmark as part of the Old Town Historic District. The Post Office building at 201 S. College is individually designated on the State/National Registers and as a Fort Collins Landmark. The Poudre Garage at 148 Remington St. is a Fort Collins Landmark. The Forest Service building at 240 W. Prospect Rd. does not have any historic designations but is eligible for Landmark designation.

(Additional sources: Jason Marmor, 148 Remington Historic Building Inventory, 1995; Mary Therese Anstey, 240 W. Prospect Architectural Inventory Form, 2010; Photos: Left, 148 Remington (HPS); Right, 240 W Prospect (Anstey))

The July HPC Work Session and Regular Meeting have been CANCELED due to lack of business.

Next Work Session: Aug. 12, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., in person at City Hall (300 Laporte Ave., Council Chambers). Public may attend, but no public participation occurs at work sessions.

Next Regular Meeting: Aug. 19, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., in person at City Hall (300 Laporte Ave., Council Chambers) or virtually via Zoom. Public may attend and provide comment.

Agenda:

• Consent Agenda
  • Minutes of May 20, 2026
• Discussion Agenda: 
  • Appeal of Determination of Eligibility: 635 S. Mason St.

Surveys in Progress:
We are currently researching the following properties to determine if they are eligible to be Fort Collins Landmarks in association with a current development review application. Determinations of eligibility are based on the best available information today and are valid for five years. Members of the public with information regarding the history of these properties should contact Historic Preservation Services as soon as possible at Preservation@FortCollins.gov.

• None

Recent Survey Results: 

• 811 E. Myrtle St., c. 1950 care facility – City acquisition due diligence – Not Landmark Eligible; Issued June 23
• 228 W. Magnolia St., 1905 6-plex – Research for future development planning – Landmark Eligible; Issued June 24
• 635 S. Mason St., 1901 triplex – Due diligence, no planned development – Landmark Eligible; Issued June 18 – Appealed, hearing date with HPC Aug. 19
• 331 N. Loomis Ave. - c. 1903 residence - Project planning for potential subdivision application – Landmark Eligible – Issued May 21, 2026; Appealed - date of hearing TBD
• 2112 E. Harmony Rd. – Harmony School and Teacherage (Landmark property designated 1997) – Survey for future project planning – Teacherage on property found to be Eligible/Contributing to Landmark property – Issued April 23, 2026

The City of Fort Collins requires public notification prior to the demolition of single-unit residences over 50 years of age, and we also provide notice on standalone demolition applications for commercial properties. These notifications occur to inform the community of a potential change coming to their neighborhood and because certain groups can nominate a property for Landmark designation against the wishes of a property owner under Municipal Code Sec. 14-31 (the HPC by motion, a City Councilmember by written request, or three residents together by petition). Public noticing is considered complete the day after the HPC meeting for which it is noticed. Written public comments can be submitted to Preservation@FortCollins.gov up to 48 hours prior to the HPC meeting for inclusion with the meeting packet. These notifications appear on the commission's discussion agenda, and an opportunity for spoken public comment will also be provided at the meeting. Visit the recently updated Single-Unit Dwelling Demolition Notification webpage for more detailed information on this process.

Active Demolition Notices:

• None

Recently Completed Demolition Notices:

• 719 Stover St., built 1926 (no public comment at Aug. 20, 2025 HPC Meeting; no action taken by HPC)
• Standalone Demolition Notification (demo of property owned by City located outside of city limits) - 3624 E. Mulberry St. (Baker-Miller-Kath-Greager Property), built c. 1900 (no public comment at Aug. 20, 2025 HPC Meeting; no action taken by HPC)
• Standalone Demolition Notification (demo of commercial property with no development currently proposed) - 1513 N. College Ave. (K-Bar-D/Budget Host Motel), built 1946-1973, multiple buildings (1 public comment supporting proposed demolition at Nov. 19, 2025 HPC meeting; approval recommended by HPC to the decision-maker, the Chief Building Official, due to the extent of methamphetamine contamination)
• 1617 Person Ct., built c. 1947 (no public comment at Aug. 20, 2025 HPC Meeting; no action taken by HPC)
• 408 N. Loomis Ave., built c. 1906 (no public comment at May 21, 2025 HPC Meeting; no action taken by HPC)

"A BOY WANTED MUST BE FUNNY," declares a sign held up by a woman lounging on a pile of pillows for a man who leans in to get a better look. Although their identities have not been verified, this photograph is believed to be of Abbie (Harris) Coy and her husband, Burgis, at the Harris family home at 103 N. Sherwood St. This photo is dated to the first decade of the 1900s; Abbie and Burgis married in 1906, so it is possible they were courting at the time this intimate moment was captured on film.

103 N. Sherwood, known as the Baker/Harris House, is designated as a Fort Collins Landmark for its association with Fort Collins mayors Fred Baker and Jessie Harris and as an example of an upper middle class residence from the late nineteenth century.

(Photo: "House Interior, Possibly Burgis and Abbie Coy," 1900s, FCMoD, H08709)