DENVER — History Colorado will honor outstanding individuals, projects and communities’ working to preserve and protect Colorado’s diverse past at its 28th Annual Stephen H. Hart Awards for Historic Preservation ceremony on Feb. 5 at the History Colorado Center in Denver.

From reconstructing the Hanging Flume (the only intact flume of its kind in the United States) to transforming an elegant 1885 Denver school into an energy efficient nonprofit center, the projects and honorees receiving this year’s awards are examples of innovative archeology and historic preservation efforts that create Colorado’s future while honoring its past.

From the esteemed group of nominations, each year one exemplary project or person is selected to receive the Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation. Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia will present the 12th annual Governor’s Award to the Colorado Wickiup Project. The project is a comprehensive archaeological documentation of traditional wooden Ute tribal dwellings at more than 350 sites throughout the state.

“The Colorado Wickiup Project is a testament to the value of partnerships between the three Ute Tribes, and State and Federal agencies—all spearheaded by the Dominquez Archaeological Research Group,” said Ed Nichols, History Colorado President and CEO. “The project sheds a fascinating light on how ancestors of the Ute people lived and what their traditional dwellings represented to their community. It also offers an important resource for researchers and the public that provides a deeper understanding of their culture and the significance of the Ute people’s presence in Colorado. ”

In addition to the Governor’s Award, other notable projects will be recognized. Three projects will receive Stephen H. Hart Awards. Named for Colorado’s first State Historic Preservation Officer, the Stephen H. Hart Awards began in 1986. The 5th Annual History Colorado President’s Award and Hart Archaeology Award is given to a person, project or program that enriched and educated others about our state’s history and heritage and demonstrated a commitment for historic preservation and archaeology, respectively. The 2014 award recipients are:

12th Annual Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation:

● Dominguez Archaeological Research Group, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Southern Ute Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service For the Colorado Wickiup Project

5th Annual History Colorado President’s Award:

● The National Trust for Historic Preservation, St. Charles Town Company, SLATERPAULL Architects and Spectrum General Contractors For the rehabilitation and restoration of the Emerson School

5th Annual Hart Archaeology Award:

● Richard Carrillo, Cuartelejo HP Associates For his statewide archaeological efforts

28th Annual Stephen H. Hart Awards:

● Logan County Board of County Commissioners For the rehabilitation and restoration of the Logan County Courthouse

● City of Greeley and Historic Greeley, Inc. For Greeley’s comprehensive outreach and educational preservation initiatives

● Western Colorado Interpretive Association, Anthony & Associates and the Bureau of Land Management For the preservation and reconstruction of the Hanging Flume

The awards ceremony takes place during Colorado Preservation Inc.’s 2014 Saving Places conference. Attendees include archaeologists, preservationists, community activists and State legislators who will be present to celebrate the evening’s honorees. The awards are administered by the History Colorado State Historical Fund(SHF), and many of the projects receiving awards have been funded in part by SHF grants.

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History Colorado's mission is to inspire generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Colorado. We serve as the state's memory, preserving the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through our museums, educational programs, historic preservation grants, research library, collections, and outreach to Colorado communities. Find History Colorado on all major social media platforms. Visit HistoryColorado.org or call (303) HISTORY for more information.

Media Contact:
Shannon Haltiwanger
Preservation Communications Manager
(303) 866-2043
shannon.haltiwanger@state.co.us