We Can't Wait to See You!

The Fort Collins Historical Society will begin meeting again on September 5, 2023.

Our theme this year is “Answering the Call: the History of First Responders in Fort Collins.”

The Fort Collins Historical Society promotes the history of Fort Collins and Northern Colorado through a yearly speaker series. All talks are free and open to the public.

In-person resentations are held in the historic Masonic Temple located at 225 W. Oak Street in downtown Fort Collins. Meetings start at 7pm and generally last until about 8:30. During COVID restrictions, however, meetings will be hosted through Zoom – but still on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 pm.

All presentations are free and open to the public, though membership is encouraged. The $10 annual membership fee helps to offset the costs of room rental, occasional snacks, and other small expenses.

The Historical Society also supports the efforts of other local organizations that seek to preserve the history of our community for the social, cultural, and economic benefit of us all.

Fort Collins in 1908

This is a somewhat random list of details about the town of Fort Collins from 1908 (as listed on our old historical society website. This info probably came from an old newspaper.) Assessed Valuation - $1,900,000 Banks - 3 National and 1 State with deposits...

Fort Collins – 1903. It was a very good year!

The year 1903 was drawing to a close and Fort Collins had little cause for complaint. The city took on new life and vigor and surged forward by leaps and bounds to a proud position among its sister cities and towns in Colorado. The closing year witnessed a substantial...

Odds and Ends from 1899

January 14 In 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Roucolle entertained a small company at a unique and enjoyable Jackrabbit Dinner. The name cards were disks of cardboard embellished with hand painted jackrabbits. The men were given the front foot of the rabbit for a souvenir. A King’s...

Businesses in Early Fort Collins

Learn about the beginnings of various early Fort Collins (and regional) businesses up through 1915.

Important Dates of Note in Fort Collins’ Early History

1844: Antoine Janis claimed to have staked his original squatters claim at Colona (Laporte).   1854: Larimer County part of newly-created Nebraska Territory.   1858-60: Antoine Janis and others located a townsite to the west of the present LaPorte and named...

Vintage Fort Collins Cookbook – 1896

Our Best Receipts A Cookbook Published by the Ladies of the First Baptist Church Fort Collins, Colorado 1896 Preface If a quarrel arises ‘twixt husband and wife, And clouds of debate lower, threatening strife. Instead of debating – though perhaps you would risk it – I...

Field Trips in Colorado

Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tours – Tours run every 20 to 30 minutes, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, 7 days/week.  FREE. 2351 Busch Drive, Fort Collins (970) 490-4691. Antique Washing Machine Museum -  35901 WCR 31, Eaton 80615  (970) 454-1856 oldewash@aol.com Arvada Flour Mill...

Books About Fort Collins & the West

A man learns by two things. One is reading. The other is association with smarter people. - Will Rogers Cemeteries in Colorado Brinks, Rose L.1988. Bingham Hill Cemetery: Laporte & Bellvue, Colorado, Don-Art Printers, CO, 88 pages. Brinks, Rose L. 1998.  History...

History of the State Agricultural College – 1895

Information for this history was taken from the 1895 Silver Spruce ... History of the State Agricultural College 1895 Tracing the years forward from 1862, we find an order, passed February 27, 1878, by the Board of Agriculture, then in session at Fort...

A – Z Fort Collins Firsts

“A” – On December 12, 1923 the huge "A" which stands on the foothills near Horsetooth Mountain was placed there by Colorado Agricultural College students. Agricultural Experiment Station – On March 2, 1887 an Agricultural Experiment Station was established at CAC.  In...