Historic Preservation Month 

Castle Rock Summit, 1880

Historic black and white photograph of Castle Rock summit circa 1880-1920

Homecoming parade, 1956

Historic black and white photograph of 1956 DCHS homecoming float on Wilcox St.

221 Cantril Street, 1980

Historic black and white photograph of 221 Cantril St. Home and front lawn pictured.

First National Bank, 1925

Historic black and white photograph of 1925 WX First National Bank Douglas County

Flood of 1965, Wolfensberger

Historic black and white photograph of 1965 flood- Wolfensberger Bridge

Courthouse, 1920

Historic black and white photograph of 1920_25 Douglas County Courthouse
Photos courtesy Douglas County Libraries Archives and Local History

  1. Ways to celebrate Historic Preservation Month

    May is Historic Preservation Month — what better time to explore the people and places that helped to shape Castle Rock's unique character? Downtown Castle Rock is dotted with historic buildings, rich with history, that tell the stories of our past and shaped the Town's unique character. 

    Visit the Castle Rock Museum

    The building itself is an artifact! The former train depot, built in 1875, is now home to photographs, documents and mementos that represent decades of Castle Rock history. 

    scavenge the rock logoScavenge the Rock — May 1 through June 3

    This family friendly scavenger hunt will take you on a month-long adventure to explore 21 historic landmarks. Collect points for each stop along the way for a chance to win Summer Concert Series tickets, passes to Red Hawk Golf Course and more!
    Find more information on the Castle Rock Museum website.

    Victoria's Tea — 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13 

    “The Legendary Ladies"  bring the past to life while you enjoy tea and scones.  Find more information on the Castle Rock Museum website. 

    Historic trolley tours — Saturday, May 6Blue and white trolley

    Take a ride on the Town trolley and hear fascinating stories from local historians from the Castle Rock Museum. The 45-minute tours depart at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.  Reservations are required.  Find more information on the Castle Rock Museum website.

    Craig and Gould neighborhood celebration — 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25 

    Join us to celebrate the past, present and future of Castle Rock's most historic neighborhood. The public is invited to attend as we bury a time capsule and mark the completion of new stormwater, utility and road infrastructure that will help preserve the life of one of Castle Rock's most beloved places. You'll find us at Triangle Park, located at Sixth and Gilbert streets.

    Self-guided walking tours

    • Incorporated in 1881, Castle Rock offers a charming historic Downtown, along with great amenities and excellent shopping. We invite you to explore our community and history. View and print a walking tour map of historic Downtown Castle Rock (PDF).
    • The Craig and Gould neighborhood is the residential area east of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, west of Gilbert Street, south of the Rock and north of the Douglas County Fairgrounds. This neighborhood contains more historically significant structures, with a relatively high degree of integrity, than any other area in Town, and likely in the entire county. Additionally, there are two properties that are listed on the National Register of Historic Properties: Hammar House at 203 Cantril St. and the Cantril School at 320 Cantril St. View and print a walking tour map of Craig and Gould neighborhood (PDF).

    Historic Preservation Month coloring and activity sheets 

    Kids of all ages can learn about Castle Rock's unique history while waiting for dinner! Visit participating Downtown restaurants — many of which are located in historic buildings — and you'll find coloring and activity sheets created by the Castle Rock Historic Preservation Board. View and download coloring and activity sheets for enjoyment at home.

  1. Ways the Town supports historic preservation

    In 2007, Town Council unanimously approved and adopted the Historic Preservation Plan to serve as a policy guide for all other Town-wide plans and decisions as they relate to identified historic resources. View the Historic Preservation Plan (PDF).

    Local Restoration Grant ProgramBlack and white photo of one-story brick building, horses, carriages, and men with top hats.

    The Local Restoration Grant Program provides grants of up to $2,000 to designated properties for minor restoration projects. Grants will be issued for restoration, reconstruction and rehabilitation projects at designated landmark properties. Generally, these grants would be available for smaller projects, such as sanding and repainting a façade, reconstructing windows, re-roofing, reconstructing porches, etc. However, larger projects, or State Historic Fund cash-match projects, may be considered.

    Downtown Historic Preservation Grant

    The Downtown Historic Preservation Grant provides financial incentives of up to $25,000 for the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic properties within the Downtown Overlay District including exterior rehabilitation and restoration of historic properties. This grant directly supports the Town's commitment to preserving historic Downtown buildings and helps to ensure their long-term viability, regardless of their historic landmark status.

    Design Assistance ProgramWild Blue Yonder Brewery building in Downtown Castle Rock

    This program is designed to provide up to $1,000 of design assistance to historic properties, giving Downtown Castle Rock property owners architectural assistance for designing projects in accordance with Castle Rock design guidelines.   Learn more about the program here. 

    Historic Preservation Board

    The Historic Preservation Board works to protect and preserve the history of Castle Rock through recommendations to Town Council for designation of historic structures as landmarks at the local level. 
    Learn more about the Historic Preservation Board here.

    Cultural Resource Surveys

    Colorado Cultural Resource Surveys  are an architectural inventory of historic buildings that contain both architectural and historic information, helping to determine a building's historic significance and integrity. These surveys are filed with the State Historical Society and are used for a variety of purposes that will further strengthen the goals of identification, evaluation and protection of the historic resources in Castle Rock. They can also give you a peek inside your Town's history. 
    View surveys of historic Castle Rock buildings.