A lot of work and research goes into designating a building in the National or State Register, but the reward is well worth it, as preserving and sharing the stories behind these historic places is vital to educating future generations. That's why we're pleased to announce two additions to the National Register, as well as one new property to the Colorado State Register.

Ranging from an archaeological site to those important to Civil Rights and communications histories, these properties are part of what makes Colorado’s history so amazing.

Robert B. Bradford Property, Bradford-Perley Site — National Register

Imagine having an Express Toll transponder on the front of your covered wagon as you head west, most likely hanging from your horse’s neck. Believe it or not, toll roads did exist in the 1800s to charge travelers as they headed out west. This is exactly what Major Robert Boyle Bradford and others did when they built the Bradford Wagon Road to transport prospectors and settlers into the mountains and mines during the early years of the Gold Rush in the 1860s.

Bradford founded Bradford City in the foothills west of Denver. While the town no longer exists today, the house that Bradford constructed retains only its stone walls, reminding us of the building that was once there.  The site has become part of the National Register for its association with early transportation as well as for having the potential for us to learn more about the property and the people who once lived there through archaeological study.

Macedonia Baptist Church and Education Annex — National Register

Serving as a meeting location for organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Macedonia Baptist Church was originally founded in the Five Points area of Denver, but eventually moved to its current location on Adams Street. There, Civil Rights luminaries Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. both spoke.

With its abstract and figurative art glass and structural design elements to create the soaring interior sanctuary, the church is also a prime example of  Modern architecture. Because of both its historical associations with the Civil Rights struggle in Denver, as well as its architecture, this property is well deserving to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Be sure to catch the longer feature article about this building in Colorado Heritage, available this fall.

Plaza Block Building — State Register

The Plaza Block Building in the southeastern city of La Junta  played an important role in the communication network during the turn of the twentieth century and served as the Postal Telegraph and Cable Company (later Western Union) for almost 60 years, connecting Colorado locations to cities as far east as Omaha and as far west as Los Angeles, some for the first time.

Built by local architect William H. Robinson in 1895 and designed as a two-part commercial style building, it is now the only extant nineteenth-century building on the Highway 50 corridor though La Junta.

History Colorado strives to preserve and share our state’s past for future generations to enjoy, and these properties demonstrate the wide array of stories that the National and State Registers seek to preserve. Visit our website to learn more about these listings and other Colorado historic places.