Dear Editor, 

We tend to take historic places for granted. Because they’ve always been here, we assume they always will be. We pass them daily, rely on them as landmarks, and rarely stop to consider how fragile they actually are. We assume someone, somewhere, is paying attention. And then, every so often, a dramatic “Save the ___ Building” campaign erupts. Those moments — the yard signs, the public meetings, the urgent headlines — are the visible, even glamorous side of historic preservation. 

But that’s not where preservation begins. The foundational work is quieter. It’s inventories and surveys, research and documentation. It’s policy discussions and review of alteration projects large and small. It’s paying attention before something becomes a crisis. In Gilpin County, the greatest threat to historic structures isn’t sweeping redevelopment — it’s simple neglect. Slow deterioration. The kind of loss that happens without a headline.

The Gilpin County Historic Preservation Commission currently has two openings: one Regular voting seat and one Alternate. This is a volunteer advisory role, meeting once per month, and appointments are made by the Board of County Commissioners following an interview with the current Commission.

One of the available seats must be filled by someone with professional credentials in a preservation-related field — history, architecture, archaeology, planning, geography, American studies, or a closely related discipline. If your background feels adjacent but not perfectly aligned, we encourage you to reach out. Professional experience often spans more ground than people realize, and we are happy to discuss whether it may qualify.

You do not need to live in Gilpin County to serve, and meetings allow virtual participation.

Serving on the Commission offers something rare: the opportunity to engage in the steady, behind-the-scenes work that sets up future preservation efforts for success or failure. Members help guide policy, contribute to studies and inventories, and participate in conversations about long-term stewardship in one of Colorado’s most historically significant mountain counties.

Applications are due March 16, 2026. Please submit a letter of interest and resume to Jack Zeman at jzeman@gilpincounty.org.

Historic places endure not because they are old, but because people choose to steward them. We hope you’ll consider being one of those people.

Thank you, 

Jamie Boyle

Director of Community Development, Gilpin County