10 Historical Monuments to Visit in the Loveland-Ft Collins Area

With so many new homes for sale in Loveland, northern Colorado is a rapidly growing community. What some don’t realize, however, is that the area is also rich with history. This past June, Downtown Loveland was added to the National Register of Historic Places because of its longstanding agriculture and railroad roots. In addition to this distinction, there are many historical monuments in the Northern Colorado region that make our very own “Gateway to the Rockies” so special.

To help guide you through history, we’ve compiled a list of our ten favorite historical monuments and places to visit in the Loveland-Fort Collins area.

1. Milner-Schwarz House: Built in 1873 by a farmer named Joseph Milner, the Milner-Schwarz House is located in the Old Fairgrounds Park and is the oldest brick farmhouse in the Big Thompson Valley. Overcoming record floods and weather havoc, the Milner-Schwarz house is still standing, and is a landmark that displays old-fashion ingenuity and a farmer’s insight that saved a family’s legacy. In addition to the house, the Loveland Historical Society also opened a popular community garden in 2011 on the southwest side of the property.

2. Mariano Medina Cemetery: The Mariano Medina Cemetery was acquired by the Loveland Historical Society to preserve the rich historical value of the Medina family plot, dating back the first burial in 1864. Colorado mountain man Mariano Medina was famously quoted, “The cemetery was viewed with curiosity mixed with respect by settlers and travelers, who expressed surprise at finding it so well kept in such an uncivilized land.” He was later buried outside the cemetery walls in 1878 because there was no room left in the cemetery.

3. Colorado & Southern Railroad Depot: The Colorado & Southern Railway was an American Class railroad that sparked the city of Loveland’s existence. The railroad depot was located at the intersection of the railroad tracks and 4th street—allowing Loveland to become a center of activity in the early 1920’s.

4. Avery House: Built in 1879, the exquisite Avery house was the family home of Franklin and Sara Avery and their three children. The Avery House is located at 328 W. Mountain Avenue in Fort Collins and serves as a museum honoring life at the turn of the 19th Century. Read more here.

5. Water Works: Constructed in 1882-83, the Water Works facility at 2005 N. Overland Trail was a key factor in protecting the town of Fort Collins from a plague of abundant fires. This 26-acre site supplied the town with water in its early days and still stands as a historical landmark today. Read more here.

6. Big Thompson River Bridges: The four historic bridges on the Big Thompson River have amazingly survived a series of massive floods, including the famous Big Thompson flood of 1976, without losing historic integrity. These bridges were built in 1933 and 1937, and have all been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Big Thompson River Bridge I, US 34 at milepost 65.53, Estes Park, CO
• Big Thompson River Bridge II, US 34 at milepost 66.22, Estes Park, CO
• Big Thompson River Bridge III, US 34 at milepost 85.15, Loveland, CO
• Big Thompson River Bridge IV, US 34 at milepost 86.04, Loveland, CO

7. Loveland Bottling Company: Established in 1925, the Loveland Bottling Company was one of the first in Colorado to produce carbonated beverages under the Nehi and RC Cola labels. Other technology-based companies followed its success and flocked to Loveland through the 1960’s, and the favorable environment and workforce continue to attract a thriving business community to this day.

8. Chapungu Sculpture Park: Developed by McWhinney and African Art Promotions, Chapungu Sculpture Park is a 26-acre exhibit located east of The Promenade Shops off Centerra Parkway and Highway 34. The public park features 82 historic African stone sculptures carved by renowned Zimbabwean artists as well as a 1.5 mile walking trail positioned among various water features, benches and community gathering areas. In addition to the 82 hand-carved stone sculptures, there are 600 trees (20 different species), over 2,300 native shrubs and over 7,000 ornamental grasses. Learn more here.

9. Human Spirit Memorial: Located at 112 Johnson Drive, the Human Spirit Memorial serves as a reminder of the 1997 flood, the five Fort Collins residents who lost their lives and the hundreds of homes and businesses that were damaged. Today the statue symbolizes how the northern Colorado community pulled together in a time of tragedy to help those in need. Learn more here.

10. Lincoln Gallery: Located in historic downtown Loveland, the Lincoln Gallery is an art gallery dedicated to exhibiting projects and artwork from artists of the Thompson Valley community. The gallery has a flourishing collection of must-see mountain scenes, portraits, flowers, animals, and other renderings unique to northern Colorado.

Even though the Loveland community is a rapidly developing area, there is still a rich history to be explored. If you’re looking to buy a new home with historical roots as well as a beautiful natural surrounding, there are several home builders in Loveland CO that are here to help. Visit our website to learn more about The Lakes at Centerra.