Our 2025 Summer Tours are right around the corner!
Become a Member and have pre-registration!

We have an exciting Summer scheduled ahead. Our calendar includes The WW2 Aviation Museum, The Patty Jewett Golf Club along with the return of last years 4 tour sell out of Fountain Valley School. Registrations will begin on Saturday, June 28th at 9:00am. As always, we show our appreciation to current HPA Members by offering pre-registration. If your membership has expired or you’ve been thinking about becoming one, take advantage before the 28th to renew your membership or join. This way, you can rest assured you’ll have the opportunity to attend as many as you would like with no fee. Non-Members will still be $10.

A roaring success!

We are ecstatic to announce that the on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, City Council voted yes to declare the Parkside District the City’s first Historic Preservation Overlay (HP-O) zone since 2007—a significant milestone for local preservation efforts. 

About the Parkside District

 This new zoned district is called the Parkside District, named for its location near Monument Valley Park. Its boundaries include:

  • West Dale Streetto the north
  • Cascade Avenueto the east
  • The residential properties along West Willametteto the south, excluding the modern apartments and assisted living center between Monument and Mesa.

 

The district’s shape has been described as a bowtie tipped on its side.


Architectural Legacy of the Parkside District

The Parkside District showcases 70 years of residential architecture, from the 1885 Hagerman mansion at 610 N Cascade to the Tilley House (30 Mesa Rd), a 1955 modern movement gem, associated with the thriving arts movement at that time. There are 28 buildings in the district, many associated with Benjamin and Ethyl Lefkowsky, themselves artists and more importantly, developers of single-family homes on Park Terrace and Zyder Zee, of the Russ Amer Apartments at 624 N Cascade, and redevelopers of the Hagerman mansion into an apartment house. The Russ-Amer Arms was overlay zoned in the early 2000s, and the mansion was listed in the National Register in 1984.

Watch the City Council vote and Declaration

The Historic Uptown Neighborhood Association has led this effort to bring historic preservation to the attention of City Council. Research began in 2022. The application was accepted by the City Administration in August 2024. The City’s Historic Preservation Board met on February 3 and unanimously recommended approval on March 3, the City Planning Commission recommended approval on April 7, and City Council passed it on May 27th with a unanimous vote!

The Historic Preservation Overlay (HP-O) Zone contains many of the buildings in Parkside. All owners authorized Historic Uptown to represent them in this effort. There are 16 buildings on 14 parcels. Each building is nominated individually for its historic and architectural significance.

our 25th anniversary Gala

Oh what a night!

On September 7th we were honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Historic Preservation Alliance in the beautiful Fine Arts Center! Our tickets to the event sold out in a day and we had a new record for sponsorships and were amazed by the local business support we were given. Thank you to all of our members and sponsors!

Thank you to our Sponsors

Membership Levels

Whether you are the owner or occupant of a historic building, a person who values cultural landscapes and archaeological sites, or are a citizen or visitor who appreciates and desires to maintain our historic beauty, we invite you to become a member of this alliance of citizens who care about Colorado Springs, its past and its future.

Members receive a membership card that provides FREE admission to all regular HPA meetings, seminars and our celebrated and fascinating Summer Tours.  Members also receive invitations to special members-only activities and the Annual Historic Preservation Awards Gala.

You may join at any time, online or by mailing a check.  Annual renewals for existing members occur quarterly.

Champion of
Preservation Membership

Annual Membership Donation
$1,000

Friend of
General & Queen Palmer
Annual Donation - $500

In honor of the leader, and his wife, who founded Colorado Springs and donated land for the city's enjoyment.

Friend of
Winifield Scott Stratton
Annual Donation - $250

In honor of the generous man who dared to dream, a skilled carpenter turned millionaire and philanthropist.

Friend of
Helen Hunt Jackson
Annual Donation - $100

In honor of an author who dedicated her life to preservation, conservation and human rights.

Friend of
Thomas Maclaren
Annual Donation - $60

In honor of a talented and dedicated architect, whose buildings grace our town, including City Hall, and Pauline Chapel.

Friend of
Alice Bemis Taylor
Annual Donation - $40

In honor of a woman whose generosity led to the Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs Day Nursery & Grace Episcopal.

Student
Membership
Annual Donation - $15

Full-time high school or college student who has an interest in our local history and architecture are welcome to join.

Would you like to donate a different amount?

If one of these membership amounts aren’t what you’re looking for, just pick the amount that works for you and still become a friend of HPA.

Video Library

Interested in learning more about The Historic Preservation Alliance? Curious about our Summer Tours or Winter Lectures? Thinking you would like to become a member but would like to see what it offers and would like to see the annual meeting for more info? Watch different videos below and if you would like to see our evergrowing library, then click here to visist  the full video library.

Become Involved

Winter Lectures

HPA looks forward to our  Winter Lectures every year! We just announced the dates and locations for 2024 and can’t wait for you to join us this season!

Join HPA

Become a member! We have options for all levels. Most tours are free to members no matter what the membership level! A perfect Christmas gift for Friends and Family!

Get Involved

We advocate to preserve and protect the historic places in our community! Your participation strengthens our voice whether it’s attending an event or making a donation!

Call Us

+1 719 339 9168

Visit Us

Colorado Springs, CO

Email Us

info@hpasprings.org

Champion of Preservation Membership

Annual Donation $1000

As a Champion of Preservation and to show our appreciation of you being a member of The Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs you will receive 2 membership cards (perfect for couples!) providing free access to all Summer Tours and Winter Lectures in addition to 6 guest passes to share with friends or family to attend one Lecture or Tour of your choice throughout the year. You will also receive special recognition at many HPA events for your generous membership.

Friend of William & Queen Palmer

Annual Donation $500

As a Friend of Palmer and to show our appreciation of you being a member of The Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs you will receive 2 membership cards (perfect for couples!) providing free access to all Summer Tours and Winter Lectures in addition to 6 guest passes to share with friends or family to attend one Lecture or Tour of your choice throughout the year. You will also receive special recognition at many HPA events for your generous membership.

Friend of Winifield Scott Stratton

Annual Donation $250

As a Friend of Stratton, you will receive 2 membership cards (perfect for couples!) providing complimentary access to all Summer Tours and Winter Lectures in addition to 4 guest passes to share with friends or family to any Lecture or Tour throughout the year. You will also receive special recognition at our Annual Awards Gala.

Friend of Helen Hunt jackson

Annual Donation $100

As a Friend of Helen Hunt Jackson and to show our appreciation, each membership comes with 2 member cards (perfect for couples!) in addition to  3 guest passes to share with friends or family to any Winter Lecture or Summer Tour throughout the year. 

Friend of Thomas Maclaren

Annual Donation $60

As a Friend of MacLaren and to show our appreciation of you being a member of The Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs you will receive 2 membership cards (perfect for couples!) providing free entrance to all tours and lectures in addition to 2 guest passes to share with friends or family to attend one Winter Lecture or Summer Tour for free during the membership year.

Friend of Alice Bemis Taylor

Annual Donation $40

As a Friend of Alice Bemis Taylor and to show our appreciation of you being a member of The Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs you will receive 1 membership card providing full access to all Summer Tours and Winter Lectures, in addition to 1 guest pass to share with friends or family to any Lecture or Tour of your choosing.

BECOME A MEMBER

Student
Membership

Annual Membership Fee $15

All full-time high school or college students who have an interest in our local history and architecture are welcome to join and in honor of your donation all Winter Lectures and Summer Tours will be of no cost.

Choose a donation

If one of these membership amounts aren’t what you’re looking for, just pick the amount that works for you and still become a friend of HPA.

Pre-registration for members opens june 28th @ 9am

Tour #1: The Sears Kit
Home of Carey Pelto

July 10th – Check-in opens at 6PM. Tour starts at 6:30PM.

This lovely historic home was ordered from a Sears, Roebuck & Company catalog and constructed in the early 1900s. We will divide into 3 groups to learn about the history of this kit home and to tour the main floor. Our host/homeowner will tell us about the details he has uncovered about his home. In the backyard, Eric Metzger, Executive Director of the McAllister House Museum, will speak about the history of pattern homes and how the Sears catalog kit homes developed out of this movement. Volunteers within the home will guide us through while pointing out interesting design features and antiques.

Pre-registration for members opens june 28th @ 9am

Tour #2: St. Francis
of Assissi Catholic Church

July 17th – Check-in opens at 6PM. Tour starts at 6:30PM.

Our tour will be led by Maxine Martinez, a parishioner who lived on the church grounds before the church building was built, her father maintained the grounds and buildings. She has some interesting stories about the area including living on the grounds and having adventures there with her siblings in the area over 70 years ago. We will see old newspaper clippings and photos of the area prior to the tour.

The grounds were once owned by the Woodmen of America insurance company and were once occupied by a large TB treatment center with TB “pavilions”, in which residents stayed. We will visit one that is furnished as it would have been. There are many interesting stone structures in the area, and Maxine knows about all of them as well as the history of the entire church premises. The Church building was constructed in 1963.

Pre-registration for members opens june 28th @ 9am

Tour #3: The Weber Washsatch
Historical District Walking Tour

July 24th – Tour 1: Check-in opens at 4:30PM. Tour starts at 5:00PM.

Tour 2: Check-in opens at 6PM tour starts at 6:30pm

This tour examines 24 properties built between the early 1880s to 1907, extending from the latter days of the initial settlement to a town flush with prosperity, driven by the Cripple Creek mining district. Situated a little northeast of the city’s business center, these buildings show the area competed well with the North End for significant architecture.

The walk is mostly flat, with some uneven sidewalks, distance of about 7/10 mile.

Pre-registration for members opens june 28th @ 9am

Tour #4: Art on the Streets

July 31st – Check-in opens at 5:30PM. Tour starts at 6:00PM.

The annual Art on the Streets program transforms Downtown streets into an outdoor art gallery. Explore public art and get first hand insight into the artists’ process on this walking tour.

Pre-registration for members opens june 28th @ 9am

Tour #5: Colorado Springs
Day Nursery

August 7th – Check-in opens at 6:00PM. Tour starts at 6:30PM.

The Colorado Springs Day Nursery Association was founded in 1897 by 14 women. Alice Bemis Taylor was one of the founders of the day care center. Alice funded the construction of the Colorado Springs Day Nursery building in memory of her mother, Alice Cogswell Bemis. On Christmas 1923, the new Tudor building was opened. It was then called the Colorado Springs Day Nursery. The building construction cost was $262,040.

The tour covers three floors of historic architecture, art murals, fantastic millwork, and beautifully restored leaded glass windows.

Pre-registration for members opens june 28th @ 9am

Tour #6: The Fountain Valley School
of Colorado Springs

August 14th – Check-in opens at 5:30PM. Tour starts at 6:00PM.

What do Spencer Penrose, Jack Bradley, Elizabeth Sage Hare, Francis Froelicher and John Gaw Meem all have in common?  The answer is 1600 acres that started as the Lazy B Ranch and became Fountain Valley School, all as the country settled into the Great Depression.  In a slide presentation of the School’s early beginnings and a tour of three of its seminal buildings – the Hacienda, Sage Hall and the Barn, commonly known today as the Art Barn – participants will learn about the School’s distinctive architecture as the Lazy B was transformed into the boarding school we know today as Fountain Valley School of Colorado.

Pre-registration for members opens june 28th @ 9am

Tour #7: National Museum
Of WW2 Aviation

August 21st – Check-in opens at 5:30PM. Tour starts at 6:00PM.

The Museum has been open to the public since 2012. The museum tells the story of the tremendous technological advancements in aviation during World War II and the contributions and sacrifices of the men and women who won the air war. The Museum features 28 fully restored flying aircraft, and several on-going restoration projects. The Museum houses an extensive collection that includes more than 4,000 artifacts and historical documents from one of the most crucial periods in America’s history. In addition to its aircraft collection, the Museum has several fully restored and operational vehicles that were used by US forces and their allies during the war. HPA did a tour back in 2016 at this Museum but I will tell you it has made a lot of improvements in the last 9 years.

Pre-registration for members opens june 28th @ 9am

Tour #8: The Patty Jewett
Golf Course and Club House

August 28th – Check-in opens at 5:30PM. Tour starts at 6:00PM.

Patty Jewett Clubhouse is significant because it is part of the historic Patty Jewett Golf Course, one of the oldest continuously operating public golf courses west of the Mississippi. The course was originally established in 1898 and has been city-owned since 1919.

The clubhouse itself is a cherished landmark, offering stunning views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range, along with a welcoming atmosphere for golfers and visitors alike. The golf course was named after Patty Stuart Jewett, whose husband, William K. Jewett deeded the land to the city with the stipulation that it remain open to the public and park and golf purposes.

Beyond golf, the clubhouse serves as a community gathering space, hosting events, banquets, and providing a scenic retreat for locals.