(Revised: 9 April, 2016)

Walking Tours

The Niwot Historical Society offers guided walking tours of the Old Town Niwot Historic District to school groups, scout troops, and the public. Guided tours are also available in connection with annual Niwot festivals on July 4th and other special occasions. Please contact us for further details and arrangements.

A downloadable Self-Guided Walking Tour brochure is also available. (Updated September, 2015.)
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Resident Gary Ereckson’s “horseless carriage” on Second Avenue in about 1950 Niwot Historical Society Collection

Photo Collection

Over the past several decades, the Niwot Historical Society has collected more than 500 photographs pertaining to Niwot and the Left Hand Valley. In order to preserve this valuable collection, a digitization project was undertaken in 2007. As a result, all photos are now digitized, and a small spiral-bound catalog has been assembled where the collection can be viewed by researchers and private individuals.

Niwot depot with Great Western sugar beet dump in the distance. Note the beet car parked on a sidetrack beneath the ramp. Circa 1916. Niwot Historical Society Collection

To more easily locate specific pictures, they have been divided into the following categories:

People

Businesses

School Class Pictures

Organizations

Buildings

Churches

Agriculture

Railroad

Homes

Second Avenue Scenes

All photographs seen on this website are from the Niwot Historical Society’s collection. To order copies for a small fee, or to donate more Niwot photos to the collection, please contact us.

Artifact Collection

Volunteers, Connie Herbst (left) and Laura Skaggs (right) accession a quilt into the NHS artifact collection at an archiving workshop.
Niwot Historical Society Collection Volunteers Archiving Quilt

The Niwot Historical Society maintains an artifact collection containing items pertinent to Niwot and the Left Hand Valley. There are currently over 145 artifacts in our archives. Our growing artifact collection began with a donation of local items collected by Niwot Tribune editor Doyle Hornbaker. Doyle published the town’s only newspaper from 1946 to 1958, during which time many townsfolk contributed memorabilia to him for safekeeping.

Historic items continue to be donated to the society, and each is labeled and accessioned to preserve it for future generations to research and enjoy. Many are displayed when our museum is open for special town celebrations. We also draw upon these collections for special exhibits and public outreach.

Our quest for additional artifacts remains ongoing. Recent acquisitions date from the 1950s to the present. Once accepted into our collection, each item is properly documented, labeled, and archivally prepared for storage.

If you have historic items or photographs you would consider donating, please contact us. Your precious family items can be preserved safely by the historical society while allowing you a tax deduction for the value of the donation.

Firehouse Museum

Located next door to the Left Hand Grange Hall at 195 Second Avenue, the tiny Firehouse Museum is one of Niwot’s most unique historical landmarks. It is open to the public only when Niwot celebrates the Fourth of July and other special occasions. Learn more about Niwot Events.

Niwot Historical Society Collection

The map below shows the location of the firehouse, the yellow circle, next to the Left Hand Grange.

Or, you can click here to get driving directions from Google Maps.

Volunteer

You can do a little or a lot — every little bit helps. Volunteering opportunities include:

"Niwot, Now & Then" lecture series program committee.
Artifact cataloging and archiving.
Parades on the 4th of July and other special occasions.
Special events booth on the 4th of July, Enchanted Evening, and other special occasions.
Walking Tours of Old Town Niwot for school groups, public groups, and festivals.
Membership expansion and outreach to public.
Annual meeting program committee.
Historic displays for the Firehouse Museum.
Garden tending at Firehouse Museum patio garden.
Holiday decorating at the Firehouse Museum.
Social event planning for fun together with members and families.

Please contact us if you’d like to become active in the historical society.

Niwot Historical Society

Walking Tours

Photo Collection

Artifact Collection

Firehouse Museum

Volunteer

Links

Niwot Community Resources

Niwot Area Preservation Organizations

Colorado Statewide Preservation Organizations

Colorado Preservation Resources

National Preservation Organizations

National Preservation Resources