Teachers:

One of the primary objectives of this Colorado Main Streets grant is to complement Colorado history curriculums across the State with a historic architectural element. These virtual walking tours, of which there are several through the Colorado Digitization Program, will allow access to historic sites that may otherwise not be considered because of locations or other factors.

"This project addresses a segment of our population that is largely under served by the preservation community, the K-12 community. Local schools need assistance to incorporate teaching with history sites into the Colorado Education Standards for History ( http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/standards/pdf/history.pdf - see page 5 of this document). Many teachers include units on local history in the classroom, including onsite museums and historic site visits. Unfortunately teacher knowledge of historic architecture and preservation is limited and places for study are limited to the proximity of the school to a site, the transportation budget and the teacher awareness of a historical site." (text from Colorado Main Streets grant)

Our hope is that teachers will deem these virtual learning tools as useful, as well as, exciting and take the time to incorporate them in to their classroom study of Colorado history.

Many thanks, Westminster Colorado Main Streets Grant Committee

2. Much of the work on this house was done by hand not machine. The foundation upon which the house is built was dug out using shovels and then the bricks were laid (one by one) to create a two-story house.

3. A "soddy" is a house built from sod. Sod is grass and dirt cut from the ground and laid in horizontal layers. A sod house stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

4. Francis M. Day recognized that the Boulder Turnpike (Highway 36) would cut the city in half, the northern half and the southern half. Not wanting this to happen, Mayor Day met numerous times with the planning commission pleading his case to have the state build an overpass at Lowell Boulevard, the main north/south street at the time and the route to the University. Mayor Day won his case and the overpass was built.

5. Early chimneys were built from brick and mortar. The top of the chimney usually has a pipe covering the flue to keep out rain and snow.

6. A dormer is a window that juts out from the roof. A dormer was installed in Professor Gregory's house for his daughter Mary. Mary was ill and in a wheelchair. The dormer allowed her to wheel her chair close to the window so she could look out and get some sunshine.

7. The brick facade on the Harris Park Shopping Center gave each shop it's own special look but brickwork was quite expensive. So, cinder blocks were used for the remaining three walls to save money. Because the shops were joined together, the cinder blocks were not easily seen.

8. A "one-room schoolhouse" was one large room where one teacher taught children of all ages and all grades.

9. A gabled roof looks like a triangle and a hipped roof looks like a pyramid.

10. Folk Vernacular could be built quickly and didn't cost a lot of money.