Dozen Distinctive Destinations - Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum

Dozen Distinctive Destinations is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation (Preservationnation.org) established to recognize unique and lovingly preserved communities, towns, cities and regions in an effort to promote heritage tourism across the United States.

After the Museum placed an application for the Town of Crested Butte, on February 7, 2008 the National Trust for Historic Preservation honored Crested Butte, Colorado as one of its 2008 Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

Since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has annually selected communities across the United States that offer cultural and recreational experiences that are different from the typical vacation destination. With dynamic downtowns, stunning architecture and commitments to historic preservation, the selected destinations boast a richness of character and radiate an authentic sense of place.

A year-round destination, Crested Butte is a recreational paradise offering a dizzying array of activities for any traveler—from the avid sports enthusiast to the history buff. This former coal mining town has faithfully held onto its 19th century heritage, retaining the heart and spirit of the landscape while creating a main street that oozes charm.

Referred to by the National Trust as “one of the most charming vacation destinations in the Rockies”, Crested Butte exudes a friendly warmth, peaceful ambience and rugged beauty that serves as a year round escape from urban life.

A National Historic District since 1974, Crested Butte illustrates the vibrant design of a Victorian-era village, with its wooden false front buildings, street-corner flower boxes and antique lamplights. The Town enacted a preservation ordinance 35 years ago setting forth the conservation of its historic fabric. Today, with a “no demolition” law in place, more than 465 residential and commercial buildings make Crested Butte the eighth largest historic district in Colorado.