The story is valuable because it's the story of the common man. Barns, schoolhouses, churches and homes, some more than 100 years old, are still standing. Preserving those structures, and the land they sit on, captures a snapshot of the past and the rural nature of the county, Stettner said. The money is used to help preserve the county's buildings with historical value. Her job is to help property owners weave through application processes to get on federal, state and county historic registers.
Grants come from the state and federal level and from private foundations.
The general guideline for a property to get listed on a register is it must be 50 years old, maintain its original historical look and have some historical significance to the area. Historic Routt County's roots date to the Historic Preservation Committee, formed in 1993, which was a group organized through The Tread of Pioneers Museum. Encroaching new development encouraged people to form the group. The committee helped property owners take advantage of the new state gambling tax in 1993, with 5 percent going to the State Historic Fund to grant and preserve historical properties. In 1996, museum officials decided to concentrate on exhibits, and the committee was disbanded.