Heritage Center

In The Beginning

Five organizations came together in 1998 to form the Southeastern Colorado Heritage Center. They were the Pueblo County Historical Society, the Pueblo Street Railway Foundation, the Pueblo Archaeological and Historical Society, the Fray Angelico Chavez Chapter of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America, and the Pueblo Locomotive and Rail Historical Society. These groups dedicated themselves to the restoration of a 1924 railroad freight depot once owned by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in order to establish a center for the promotion of the heritage of Pueblo and southeastern Colorado.

A Community Effort

This nonprofit organization's volunteer board of directors includes representatives from the community at large. Among those agencies and organizations represented are business owners, the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, the City of Pueblo, and Pueblo County. As the Heritage Center has grown the associate and affiliate organizations have changed over the years. The current associate groups are the Pueblo County Historical Society, the Fray Angelico Chavez Chapter of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America, the Pueblo Railway Foundation, the and the Pueblo Archaeological and Historical Society. Some of the affiliate organizations that use the facility are the Irish Club, Historic Preservation Inc., Union Avenue Business District, United Transportation Union, and Destination Pueblo.

Pueblo's Heritage Comes Alive

Pueblo is one of the primary Front Range communities of Colorado, located 100 miles south of Denver. It has been named one of the top most livable communities in America by a national study. The Heritage Center is located in the Historic Union Avenue District of Pueblo. This area has seen a revitalization in business and historic preservation including the establishment and ongoing development of the Historic Arkansas River walk Project. This has drastically improved the atmosphere of this older neighborhood and city planners are working towards the Heritage Center serving as one of several attractions and anchor to the district with major attractions within walking distance including the Pueblo Convention Center and Marriott Hotel, restaurants and antique shops. The restored 1889 Union Depot, designed by Frank V. Newall of Chicago, is directly across the street from the Heritage Center. The Pueblo Railway Foundation train museum is located in the train yard adjacent to the Depot and across from the Heritage Center. Other historical and cultural sites attract visitors to the city, including the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center and the Rosemount Museum, a Victorian-era historic house museum.

We're Continually Growing

The creation of the Southeastern Colorado Heritage Center is a grass roots effort which recognizes the importance of the preservation and interpretation of the diverse ethnic and historical heritage of Pueblo and Southeastern Colorado. Target audiences include school groups, families, scholars, and tourists to the area. This website is part of our plan to share our collections and provide outreach services. The Southeastern Colorado Heritage Center is an organization striving for excellence in order to create the most meaningful educational experience possible for its visitors. We are currently focusing on a vibrant program of Legacy Trunks for area school presentations.