Historic Denver's offices have moved.
We are now in the Tattered Cover Building
1628 16th Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
303-534-5288
Fax: 303-534-5296

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Sacred Landmarks Preservation is a program of Historic Denver which serves to preserve historic sacred places and the community services they provide.

In 1998 Partners For Sacred Places, the national organization based in Philadelphia, published a report, Sacred Places at Risk, that documents and highlights the critical role that inner-city congregations play in community service and community life. After reading the Sacred Places report, a small group of clergy, congregants, and community members in Denver were motivated to better understand the contributions of local faith communities in Denver's inner-city. This group coalesced as Sacred Landmarks Preservation in September 1999. Sacred Landmarks Preservation felt a great deal of urgency as many of these buildings are endangered.

In the fall of 1999, Sacred Landmarks Preservation conducted a study involving 25 of Denver's inner-city historic sacred places. This study focused on the community services that are supported by these congregations. It found that 100% of the churches surveyed support service to the community with over 1,350 such programs reported among the 25 surveyed. Additionally, the survey found that non-congregational members benefit from these services three times as often as members do. The study showed the tremendously strong commitment these congregations have to supporting programs that service the community, while often struggling to maintain the physical structure of their building.

After the study was completed, Sacred Landmarks Preservation was compelled to take action in the following ways:

Host conversations, including funders, government agencies, civic leaders, and other decision-makers, which will prompt new resources and partners to support the vital role of sacred places in the community.

Conduct research to determine the maintenance and renovation/repair costs of the historic buildings that house inner-city congregations.

Strengthen and maintain public education about the importance of sacred places in providing community-centered services.

Provide technical assistance to inner-city congregations and the pastors to help them accurately assess the enormous value of their physical and human resources.