Supporting the Places That Hold Our Stories - Why Heritage Preservation Matters — And How You Can Help.

A Year-End Call to Preserve Heritage and History

As the year comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the places that quietly carry our stories—our history, our voices, and the lived experiences of those who came before us. Heritage sites are more than buildings. They are keepers of memory, culture, and community.

Several organizations and historic locations are especially close to my heart, and I want to share ways you can support them as we head into the new year.

Pueblo Heritage Museum

The Pueblo Heritage Museum holds a truly special place in my heart. Their dedication to preserving Pueblo’s diverse history—through exhibits, education, and hands-on preservation—is vital work.

If you are looking to make an end-of-year donation to a nonprofit that directly supports local heritage, this is a beautiful place to start. Contributions help ensure Pueblo’s stories continue to be preserved and shared for generations to come.

Donations can be sent directly to Pueblo Heritage Museum - here.

Pueblo Fire Hose Company No. 3 Fire Museum

Another important piece of Pueblo’s living history is Pueblo Fire Hose Company No. 3. This historic firehouse represents not only early firefighting efforts but also the everyday courage and service that shaped the community.

Support for Fire Hose No. 3 helps preserve an irreplaceable part of Pueblo’s civic history. It's the only remaining firehouse in Pueblo that housed horse-drawn fire equipment, and one of two remaining that has the famous brass pole intact. Erected in 1881, the last fire alarm was sounded on March 9, 1979. The museum has been added to the Colorado Most Endangered Places list for 2019.

Donations can be directed to Pueblo Fire Hose Company No. 3, c/o The Pueblo Firefighters Historical Society, at 116 North Main St., Pueblo, CO, 81003.

Cripple Creek Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum

High in the mountains, the Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum preserves the law-and-order side of Colorado’s gold-rush era. From sheriffs to inmates, this site tells stories that are gritty, human, and historically significant.

Donations to the jail museum directly support preservation, interpretation, and continued public access to this remarkable site.

Donations can be sent to the jail museum in two ways: by mailing a donation to P.O. Box 430, Cripple Creek, CO  80813,  Attn: Jail Museum, or you can call the jail, at (719) 689-6556, and they can take a credit card donation over the phone and either email or text you a receipt.

Supporting Historic Places in New Ways:

Not every historic site operates as a nonprofit—but that doesn’t make preservation any less important.

Preservation and storytelling still require care, resources, and community support.

To help bridge that gap, I will be setting up a fundraiser page directly on my website through Wix, allowing supporters to contribute toward preservation-focused projects tied to historic locations. This creates a transparent, community-driven way to support heritage even when traditional nonprofit donations aren’t an option.

More details on fundraisers will be shared soon.

Why Heritage Support Matters

When we support heritage organizations and historic sites, we are supporting memory. We are honoring the people who lived these stories and ensuring they are not lost to time.

Whether you choose to give to a nonprofit museum, a historic preservation effort, or a community-based fundraiser, your support truly matters.

Thank you for caring about history, community, and the places that continue to hold our stories.

— Gail

Want to support heritage preservation? Donation links and fundraiser details can be found here. Every contribution—large or small—helps keep history alive.