PRESERVATION IN ACTION

BLENDING HISTORIC PRESERVATION, SUSTAINABILITY & ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Huge thanks to our friends at Fjällräven for joining us at our Earth Day cleanup on the Enchanted Mesa Trail! We are so grateful to work with partners who share a commitment to historic preservation, wildfire mitigation and keeping our communities safe for all to enjoy.

Video created for Chautauqua by Big Heart Film

In 2008, the Colorado Chautauqua embraced sustainability as integral to its historic preservation mission and committed to making the Colorado Chautauqua the most environmentally sustainable National Historic Landmark in the country, marrying historic preservation with resilience from weather and wildfire events and resource efficiency. Since launching our comprehensive Sustainability and Resilience report in 2021 with City Of Boulder, Chautauqua has been implementing initiatives related to energy use, water conservation, storm water management, infrastructure, wildfire mitigation and reuse/recycling. Chautauqua also offers opportunities for other organizations and individuals to learn about the challenging realities of uniting historic preservation and environmental sustainability.

“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such a work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and people will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, See! This our parents did for us!”

− John Ruskin

Preservation Fee

The Colorado Chautauqua Association is the nonprofit organization responsible for the care and protection of the Colorado Chautauqua, one of Colorado’s 28 National Historic Landmarks. The Preservation Fee we collect from patrons and guests supports the ongoing stewardship of this beloved, community resource, including the preservation and maintenance of over 100 historic buildings and 26 acres of grounds, including dozens of heritage trees. Your contribution makes this labor of love possible and ensures that future generations share in Chautauqua’s rich, living history.

High Performance Preservation

SHOWCASING SUSTAINABILITY AND PRESERVATION

The Colorado Chautauqua is committed to integrating innovative and environmentally sustainable practices within the framework of our National Historic Landmark setting. Consistent with our historic mission, our goal is to showcase the Chautauqua campus as a demonstration site and to educate visitors about innovative environmental concepts and technologies in the context of historic preservation – all in the spirit of lifelong learning, one of the most important values of the Chautauqua Movement.

Energy Performance

DEMONSTRATING BEST PRACTICES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION

Chautauqua is determined to reduce energy demand and improve energy and communications reliability, resilience, and efficiency while enhancing visitor comfort. Our integrated approach balances “best practices” in sustainability, including maximizing renewable sources, protecting infrastructure, and improving insulation, heating and cooling – all while adhering to historic preservation guidelines.

Recently we have taken two major steps forward:

Signing a multi-year contract for solar credits with SunShare community solar gardens. As of September 2025, all services operated by Colorado Chautauqua will be 100% fueled by renewable energy (see Press Release).

Embarking on a two-year project of undergrounding all power lines and communications infrastructure. This will ensure reliable energy and protect Chautauqua’s historic buildings and grounds from weather events while also reducing fire risk and restoring our historic appearance and Flatiron views.

Water Conservation

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR STRATEGIES

The Colorado Chautauqua continues to reduce indoor water consumption by employing high-efficiency toilets, low-flow aerators, low-flow faucets, and exploring potential greywater applications. We are also pursuing more effective storm water management techniques as part of our Sustainability and Resiliency Strategy. This includes improving storm water management to minimize needs for potable water for landscape irrigation. We are also converting to high-efficiency irrigation system features and controllers and developing landscape design guidelines specifying plant selections that are drought tolerant and generally indigenous to the Colorado Front Range.

Waste Management

ON THE PATH TO ZERO WASTE

For more than a decade, the Colorado Chautauqua has been working toward becoming a Zero Waste facility. We have expanded our recycling and composting programs, which includes equipping every cottage and public building with receptacles to sort waste materials. We also provide educational materials to guests and residents to help reinforce our commitment to waste reduction and diversion, minimizing materials bound for the landfill.

Living room with couch and two chairs with small dining table in background

Case Study

MARY H. GALEY COTTAGE

For three years, the Chautauqua team worked tirelessly to rehabilitate the Mary H. Galey cottage, an important historic landmark. The cottage is now a beautiful, comfortable and Energy Star certifed, living, meeting and entertaining space for families, friends, business and visiting performers, including the likes of Chautauqua favorites, David Crosby, the Indigo Girls and Keb’ Mo.

Mary H. Galey Cottage

Case Study

KING’S GATE

In 2019, as part of our ongoing commitment to the preservation of the National Historic Landmark, the Colorado Chautauqua rehabilitated King’s Gate, the historic entry to the park located on Baseline Road. This initiative included restoration of the stone columns and column caps on the gate, and reestablishing the rose garden and flower beds originally planted in the early 1900’s.

King's Gate