Welcome to the
Brand New

Cultural Resources Web Page!

People have lived on and enjoyed the lands of Open Space and Mountain Parks for thousands of years. Their stories and the evidence they've left behind are what Cultural Resources is all about. Cultural Resources promotes the study and appreciation of people through the ages and their effect on the land as well as the preservation of historic structures and archaeological sites. And no doubt about it, the lands of OSMP have been home to some pretty interesting characters!

Martin Parsons, first mountain parks ranger and his horse Spider, circa 1942

Join us as we learn about our fascinating Cultural Resources through hikes and programs and learn how you can get involved in this brand new program!

Take the New Goshawk Trail Historic Trek!

The new Goshawk Trail was complete in January, 2009. It is famous for its natural beauty, but history buffs will love this hike, too!

Historic preservation work begins!

Historic preservation work has begun on buildings like the Halfway House on Flagstaff Road. Masonry and stone repair are currently underway, and further preservation efforts will continue throughout the summer and fall.

The Halfway House we know and love today is not the first structure at the "halfway" point on Flagstaff Road. In 1919, the Boulder Lions Club constructed a small stone shelter called the Panorama Park Shelter (this photo was taken in 1919). It was the first public picnic shelter constructed in the Mountain Park. Construction of the "new and improved" Flagstaff Road by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935 made travel up the mountain faster and safer, but it also significantly changed the proximity of the road to the shelter. Town leaders decided the new road was too close to the shelter and a new structure situated farther from traffic was designed. The CCC built the building we know as the Halfway House and the restroom down the hill in 1935.

Watch for more news about rehabilitation work on our cultural resources in the near future!

Let's go hiking!

Enjoy one or all of these self-guided hikes which are written for people of all ability levels who enjoy the outdoors but want to learn about Boulder history, too! They range in ability levels from easy to difficult. We want you to enjoy your cultural resources, but as you do, please stay on trail be respectful of the resources. Refrain from climbing on resources, collecting any artifacts you may find or vandalizing the properties.

Hikers atop Green Mountain circa 1920

Below are only three of the many potential "historic hikes" in our system. Enjoy these for starters and keep an eye on this web site for more in the near future!

• Try this new hike! Goshawk Ridge Historic Trek: moderate; railroad, agriculture, recreation and geology themes
• Doudy Draw Picnic Area: Easy; Homesteading theme
• South Mesa Trailhead Cultural Landscape: Easy to Difficult; homesteading, agriculture and summer recreation themes
• Flagstaff Summit Adventure: Easy to Moderate; New Deal Construction, Civilian Conservation Corps, Boulder history and recreation themes

OSMP lands were home to aboriginal peoples like the Cheyenne and Arapahoe

For more information or "What's that building on the such and such trail":

For more information about the program, to ask a question about a resource on OSMP lands or to share your own knowledge of our cultural resources, please email Julie Johnson, Cultural Resources Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 October 2009 15:46