Grand Junction's historic downtown and old neighborhoods

Grand Junction’s downtown was planned on a grid in 1881, and parts of that early city are still standing and officially recognized.

The city runs a historic preservation program, with a register of historic sites and a board that reviews them. Landmarks tied to the town’s early decades include the old railroad depot, a reminder of when trains, not highways, tied the valley to the rest of the state; the Avalon Theatre, a longtime downtown gathering spot; and the North Seventh Street historic residential district, a street of older homes. Together they sketch the shape of the early town: a rail hub with a commercial core and the neighborhoods that grew up around it.

Why care: if you are buying or renovating an older property near downtown, a historic designation can affect what changes are allowed and what review is required. And for anyone new to the area, these sites are an easy way to read the city’s age and origins on the ground.

Designations and their rules can change, and a landmark may be listed locally, on the state register, on the national register, or some mix of the three. Confirm a specific property’s status with the city before you plan work. For the official list and preservation rules, see the City of Grand Junction and History Colorado.