Home > For All Residents & Visitors > Self-Guided Walking Tour
Town of Lake City, PO Box 544, Lake City, CO 81235. 970-944-2333.
Self-Guided Walking Tour
Lake City, Colorado National Historic District
There are over 200 historic buildings in the Lake City National Historic District, representing time periods of growth and expansion in American history.
The Lake City Historic Walking Tour is made up of 34 sites with interpretive plaques. Explore them on foot, bicycle, or by car. Each of the buildings has a story of its own, but together they represent two significant periods in the American story:
Western Frontier & 1800s Mining Boom
A significant portion of the buildings were constructed in the late 1800s, during the westward expansion of the frontier and the search for new mineral wealth. Many of Lake City's residences, civic buildings, churches, and outbuildings were built at this time.
Highlights of buildings from this time period include the downtown commercial district, including rare wood-framed commercial buildings; the location of Susan B. Anthony's visit to Lake City; and, the first church built on the western slope of Colorado.
Mid-century Tourism
Another set of buildings were a part of the booming tourism industry of the late 1930s to the 1950s. Several historic motor courts, comprised of small guest cabins and central courtyards, were built during this time to accommodate visitors who braved the rough roads in their automobiles in order to make it to Lake City every summer.
Lake City, Colorado National Historic District
There are over 200 historic buildings in the Lake City National Historic District, representing time periods of growth and expansion in American history.
The Lake City Historic Walking Tour is made up of 34 sites with interpretive plaques. Explore them on foot, bicycle, or by car. Each of the buildings has a story of its own, but together they represent two significant periods in the American story:
Western Frontier & 1800s Mining Boom
A significant portion of the buildings were constructed in the late 1800s, during the westward expansion of the frontier and the search for new mineral wealth. Many of Lake City's residences, civic buildings, churches, and outbuildings were built at this time.
Highlights of buildings from this time period include the downtown commercial district, including rare wood-framed commercial buildings; the location of Susan B. Anthony's visit to Lake City; and, the first church built on the western slope of Colorado.
Mid-century Tourism
Another set of buildings were a part of the booming tourism industry of the late 1930s to the 1950s. Several historic motor courts, comprised of small guest cabins and central courtyards, were built during this time to accommodate visitors who braved the rough roads in their automobiles in order to make it to Lake City every summer.
Click above for larger view of the map.
Virtual Walking Tour
There are currently 34 interpretive plaques in the Lake City Historic District. Each one has detailed information, stories, and photographs. This online tour offers a sample from each of the real-world plaques. Click on any thumbnail below to begin. A large photo tour will pop up. Hover your mouse over the left or right of each photo and you will see navigation arrows. Click these arrows to move through the tour.
Press the ESC button on your keyboard to stop the photo tour.
