H istoric W alking t our of o ld t oWn
H i s t o r y
Adapted from “Historic Walking Tour - Old Town” written by
Wayne C. Sundberg for the Fort Collins Historical Society. A
majority of the buildings on this tour are part of both nation-
al and local designated historic districts. Note: A “block” refers
to one building that housed multiple businesses, not a city
block.
1. The Fort Collins Museum is the perfect place to start your
Old Town exploration. Constructed in 1904 of native sand-
stone, the Fort Collins Museum building originally served as
the Fort Collins Public Library. Industrialist Andrew Carnegie
provided the $12,500 to fund the building. Today, the Fort
Collins Museum features regional cultural and natural history
exhibits in three galleries. The Heritage Courtyard houses 3
historic cabins and a 1905 one-room schoolhouse. (200
Mathews)
2. McHugh House and Hospital (202 Remington) - Referred to
as the “House of the Mayors,” this castellated sandstone struc-
ture was begun in 1885 by Lars Kemoe, a sandstone mason,
but wasn’t completed until 1888.
The second owner, C.B. Andrews,
added the carriage house. Two
other owners, Jessie Harris and
Peter J. McHugh, were mayors of
Fort Collins. McHugh, a doctor,
converted the carriage house into
a hospital. (Currently home to St.
Peter’s Fly Shop.)
3. Old Post Office (College & Oak) - This was the first structure
to be built as a post office in the town. Constructed in 1912
in the Italian Renaissance style, it occupied the site of the
original military cemetery. The post office moved to the new
Federal Building in 1972. (Currently home to Fort Collins
Museum of Contemporary Art.)
4. Kissock Block (117 E. Mountain) - Montezuma Fuller
designed and built the original Kissock Block for John A.C.
Kissock in 1889. Edwards, Kissock, and Abbott, abstractors,
were the structure’s first occupants. After a fire severely dam-
aged the building in 1895, it was rebuilt.
5. Opera House Block (119 N. College) - Built in 1880-81, this
building is part of a business block which originally housed
the Welch Dry Goods Store,
Franklin Avery’s Larimer County
Bank, and the Windsor Hotel. The
structure hosted traveling perform-
ers and served as a social center,
courtroom, the scene of political
rallies, and a venue for high school
graduations. In 1917, the building
underwent extensive remodeling
and the name was changed to “Central Hall.” (Currently home to
Europa Salon & Spa.)
6. Commercial Bank & Trust (146 N. College) - Designed by
architect Arthur W. Garbutt, this classical revival-style building was
completed in 1907. It was one of the first financial institutions to
be controlled by owners from outside the community. It was the
location of Home Federal Savings and Loan for many years.
7. Old Miller Bottling Works (173 N.
College) - Constructed in 1881, this was
where Robert Miller bottled “Golden
Lager Beer,” a forerunner of today’s
Coors Beer.
8. Northern Hotel
(172 N. College) - Hotels have occupied this site since the early
days. First, the wooden Agricultural Hotel, then the ornate brick
Commercial Hotel stood here. In 1905, a major renovation com-
pletely altered the Commercial
Hotel. A stained glass dome was
installed in the dining room and
the name changed to the
Northern. The art deco facade and
a fourth floor were alterations of
the 1930’s.
9. Jefferson Street Block & Vandewark
Building (200 Block of Jefferson) - This
group of brick buildings were built between
1879 and 1881. Denver architect, William
Quayle, designed the Jefferson Street Block as
well as several other structures. These build-
ings were part of the business center of Fort
Collins when Jefferson and Linden Streets
were the main commercial intersection in the
1880’s.