Learning Downtown History

Hello downtown Boulder! 

Have you ever walked around downtown and wondered how it all came to be? Well, I was lucky enough to learn a few pieces of history about the area. 

Last week, our team was invited by Historic Boulder, Inc. to participate in a walking tour of the Pearl Street Mall. Historic Boulder is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the preservation of the Boulder area and its historical, visual and environmental heritage. For over 50 years, the organization has worked to tell Boulder’s stories and build stronger communities. 

Historic Boulder was also the Downtown Boulder Partnership’s 2026 Nonprofit Organization of the Year for its long-standing commitment to preserving the history and character of downtown. Throughout its time as a non-profit, they have worked to save buildings that no one thought could be saved. Because of Historic Boulder’s efforts, the city still has iconic landmarks like the Boulder Theater, Dushanbe Teahouse and Boulder Bandshell.

We walked along the bricks to hear more about the history of the mall, which I learned was first established in the 1860s and is now one of the only successful pedestrian malls in the country. Our tour guide, Leonard Segel, former executive director of Historic Boulder, had many insights about all the buildings, from their history to the materials used to build them, and other fun facts. Leonard taught everyone something new, even though most of us on the tour have lived in Colorado all our lives. 

We started off the tour by learning about the architecture and history of buildings like the Boulder Theater, First United Methodist Church, Into The Wind, and many more. 1426 Pearl Street, which is now home to Hurdle's Jewelry, Zuni, and other businesses, for example, was once owned by Citizens National Bank. The third floor was used as a music hall that hosted many notable artists, including Glenn Miller and Billy Joel. Another fun fact, the Boulder County Courthouse is designed in Art Moderne Style. The courthouse that stands today replaced the first version, which was destroyed by fire in 1932.

If you’re curious about downtown Boulder’s history and want to hear more, Historic Boulder hosts events like guided walking tours and history hikes, which are open to the public. I’ll definitely have to go back and learn more about the wonderful city I call home. Throughout the year, the organizations also host preservation advocacy events like the Ghost Walk /  Ghost Talk tour, which takes visitors through spooky properties downtown. If you’re interested in the Pearl Street Walking Tour, they are hosted monthly with the next one coming up on Thursday, July 16, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Find more of Historic Boulder’s events on our downtown events calendar,

Thanks again to Historic Boulder for keeping our beautiful city’s spirit alive and making sure that downtown remains a place people want to be!

See you next time, 

Iris