The city of Cortez will mark its 15th Annual Historic Preservation Days throughout May, featuring a photo scavenger hunt, historical presentation and trivia to engage the community and educate about Cortez’s history.
The events were organized by the Cortez Historic Preservation Board in collaboration with the Cortez Cultural Center, Montezuma Heritage Museum, Cortez Public Arts Advisory Board and Cortez Retail Enhancement Association, and will align with National Historic Preservation Month. This month, which was originally a weeklong celebration, was extended to a month in 2005.
On Sunday, May 31 at 2 p.m., the Montezuma Heritage Museum will host a presentation on the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp, which operated near the Carpenter Natural Area from August 1939 to November 1941. In 2024, the city received a History Colorado grant for a cultural resource survey of city-owned natural areas. A follow-up grant to further research the camp has been recommended for funding, though federal delays have stalled processing.
The Historic Preservation Board also invites community members to participate in a photo scavenger hunt. Participants must download and color an image from the Historic Cortez Coloring Book, available online, locate the real-life site and submit a photo of themselves holding the colored image at the location by Sunday, May 31 to hwest@cortezco.gov. Prizes will be awarded. The coloring book is also available for purchase at the Cortez Cultural Center and Montezuma Heritage Museum.
Local trivia events will feature historical facts about Cortez and Montezuma County. Some questions will appear on the city’s Facebook page, including questions about historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, such as the KSJD building, Caulkins Commons and Ertel Funeral Home.
The Cortez Historic Preservation Board was created in 1996 to protect historic Main Street signs, and it now advises the City Council on preservation matters while maintaining a register of over 50 commercial and residential properties eligible for state tax credits and grants. The board meets monthly on the first Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in Cortez City Hall.
