State Historical Fund sponsored Youth Summit participants at the St. Cloud Hotel, Canon City

Preservation & Archaeology

Grants & Incentives

History Colorado provides grants for archaeology and historic preservation projects from two major funds.

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) administers the U.S. Department of Interior's Historic Preservation Fund Program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Under this program the NPS has specified that at least ten percent (10%) of Colorado's annual program funds be subgranted to Certified Local Governments.

The State Historical Fund is a statewide grants program that was created by the 1990 constitutional amendment allowing limited gaming in the towns of Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk. The amendment directs that a portion of the gaming tax revenues be used for historic preservation throughout the state.

In addition to these grants federal and state tax laws provide tax incentives for historic preservation projects that follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. These credits allow taxpayers to reduce, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the amount of income tax they owe to the government.

Certified Local Governments  

The CLG Program provides a community a process to identify, preserve and promote the historic places that tell their story and celebrate their identity as a unique and exciting place to live and visit.  Specific economic benefits include access to the CLG Grant Program and eligibility for State Historic Preservation Tax Credits.

Certifying Your Local Government

Preservation Tax Credits  

Learn more about the federal and state tax credit programs available for preservation projects.

  • Preservation Tax Credit Fact Sheet

    Discover all the commonly asked questions regarding preservation tax credits.  This is a great place to start if you have never dealt with a preservation tax credit project before.

Preservation Tax Credit Application Forms

State Historical Fund  

  • State Historical Fund

    The State Historical Fund awards grants funded by limited stakes gaming in the towns of Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek for significant buildings, structures, objects, districts, or archaeology sites, or about preservation of historic resources in Colorado.

    Check here for any program updates and yearly grant calendar, Program Updates.

    To see a complete list of recently received grants for $1-$50,000, click here.

    To see a complete list of recently received grants for $50,001-$250,000, click here.

Awarded Grants

Additional Resources for Funding