Poudre Landmarks

10/20/2026

Something mysterious is stirring at the 1879 Avery House…

The candles are flickering, the shadows are growing longer, and Victorian secrets are waiting to be uncovered…

This Halloween season, dare to step inside the historic 1879 Avery House for an unforgettable Halloween Candlelit Tour! 🕸️

Discover the eerie origins of Halloween. Uncover the strange traditions of the Victorian era. Hear tales of the supernatural from our ghostly guides. Warm up with hot apple c***r and fall-themed treats!

Thursday, October 29 & Friday, October 30
Tours begin every half hour from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. and are approximately 45 minutes long
$25 per person | Reservations required

Tickets are SELLING QUICKLY, and you don't want to miss your chance to experience the Avery House after dark! Space is limited, so don't wait until the spirits are stirring to claim your spot.

🔗 Reserve your tickets now: https://bit.ly/4yDxU1L

Will you dare to join us? 👀

10/09/2026

Looking for something fun to do with the kids tomorrow? We’ve got a suggestion: go exploring!

The 1883 Water Works Open House is happening tomorrow, Saturday, October 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. — and admission is FREE!

Bring the family to one of Fort Collins’ most fascinating historic sites and spend the day discovering the story of water and how it helped our community grow.

You can:
🏡 Explore the historic Water Works buildings
💧 Learn how Fort Collins’ early water system worked
📜 Hear stories about the people and technology behind it
🍂 Enjoy the beautiful fall surroundings
🦊 Get up close with animal pelts, skulls and other wildlife information with staff from Lory State Park

The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program unfortunately had to cancel its appearance, but we’re excited to welcome Lory State Park staff, who will be sharing all kinds of fascinating information about the animals that call the park home. Kids (and grown-ups!) are sure to find something interesting.

And there's one more reason to come: this is the final Water Works Open House of the year!

So grab the kids, bring your curiosity, and come spend a fall Saturday exploring a little piece of Fort Collins history.

Tomorrow - Saturday, October 10
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
2005 N. Overland Trail
FREE ADMISSION

Come for the animals. Stay for the history. Leave with a few new things to talk about around the dinner table!

10/07/2026

Something mysterious is stirring at the 1879 Avery House…

As darkness falls this Halloween season, step inside the 1879 Avery House for an evening of flickering candlelight, Victorian secrets, and stories that may send a chill down your spine.

On October 29 & 30, join us for a special Halloween Candlelit Tour and discover the fascinating—and sometimes eerie—origins of Halloween.

Why did Victorians bob for apples? What strange rituals once marked the season? And what fueled the Victorian fascination with the supernatural?

Ghostly guides will lead you through the shadowy corridors of the Avery House, sharing Halloween tales, curious traditions, and historical facts along the way.

And because even brave souls need a little comfort, your evening includes hot apple c***r and fall-themed treats.

Thursday, October 29 & Friday, October 30
Tours begin every half hour from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes
$25 per person
Reservations required

Will you dare to join us?

Reserve your spot: https://bit.ly/4yDxU1L

Space is limited, so don't wait until the spirits are already stirring!

Candlelit tours of the historic 1879 Avery House.

09/25/2026

Unfortunately, we were recently told that the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program will not be able to attend our open house at the Water Works on Saturday, October 10th. While we are very sad to hear the news, we're sure it will still be a great event. We will have other additions that we will announce shortly. We're sorry for the change.

09/25/2026

Did you join us for the Historic Homes Tour? We’d love to hear what you thought!

We’re asking our wonderful tour guests to take a minute or two to complete a very short survey about your experience. There are only a few questions, and your feedback will help us understand what you enjoyed, what we can improve, and how we can make next year’s tour even better.

Your input makes a real difference as we plan next year’s Historic Homes Tour.

If you attended the tour, please take a minute to share your thoughts!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XZJXMKK

Thank you for helping us keep this Fort Collins tradition going strong!

09/21/2026

Ready for a Saturday that combines history, adventure, and some seriously impressive birds?

Come explore the 1883 Water Works at our final Open House of the year! Step inside this fascinating historic facility, take a guided tour, and discover how Fort Collins’ first public works project helped shape the region’s water system. You’ll hear stories about the people, technology, and challenges behind getting water to a growing community.

Unfortunately, the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program had to cancel their appearance, but we have staff from Lory State Park coming instead! They will be bringing pelts & skulls & other information about wildlife that are frequently seen at the park!

Bring the kids, bring your curiosity, or bring your inner history buff. There’s something for everyone!

1883 Water Works Open House
Saturday, October 10
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
2005 N. Overland Trail
FREE ADMISSION

Come for the history. Stay for the raptors. Leave with a new appreciation for the remarkable stories behind Fort Collins.

This is our last Open House of the year, so don’t miss it!

09/17/2026

A HUGE thank-you to the volunteers who made the 2026 Historic Homes Tour possible!

Behind every great Historic Homes Tour is a team of wonderful people who show up, pitch in, and make it all happen. Our volunteers staffed the tour sites, welcomed guests, answered questions, shared stories, gave directions, and helped create the warm, welcoming experience our visitors enjoyed.

We truly could not do this tour without you.

To everyone who volunteered this year: your time and energy are deeply appreciated. We hope you had as much fun being part of the day as our guests did exploring Fort Collins’ historic homes and landmarks!

Volunteering for the Historic Homes Tour is also a pretty great way to spend a day—you get to see beautiful historic places, meet interesting people, hear fascinating stories, and be part of one of Fort Collins’ favorite history events.

So, if you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to be part of that next year,” consider this your invitation!

We’ll be looking for volunteers again for the 2027 Historic Homes Tour, and we’d love to have you join us.

Thank you, volunteers, for helping us keep Fort Collins history alive and making the tour such a success!

09/14/2026

What a day!

The 2026 Historic Homes Tour was a wonderful success, and we have YOU to thank!

Thank you to everyone who came out to explore Fort Collins’ historic homes and landmarks, listen to stories, admire the architecture, and enjoy a beautiful day celebrating our community’s history. We had wonderful houses, wonderful guests, and lots of great conversations along the way.

A huge thank-you also goes to the homeowners, historic sites, docents, volunteers, and everyone who helped make the tour possible. We couldn’t do it without you!

Now, as we start thinking about next year’s tour, we’d love your help. What did you love? What could we improve? What would make the 2027 tour even better?

If you attended this year, please take a few minutes to complete our short survey. Your feedback will help us make next year’s tour even more enjoyable.

Take the survey here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XZJXMKK

Thanks again for spending the day with us and helping us celebrate the places and stories that make Fort Collins special. We’ll see you on the tour next year!

09/11/2026

🏠 Historic Homes Tour is TOMORROW! 🏠

We can't wait to welcome you to the 42nd Annual Fort Collins Historic Homes Tour on Saturday, September 12!

A few important reminders for our guests:

🎟️ Ticket prices increase tomorrow, on the day of the tour, so buy your tickets today and save a little cash!

📍 Online ticket holders: You MUST check in and pick up your ticket booklet at either:
- The 1879 Avery House, 328 W. Mountain Avenue
OR
- The 1883 Water Works, 2005 N. Overland Trail beginning at 10 a.m. Ticket booklets are not available for pickup at the other tour properties.

🚲 Biking is encouraged! All tour locations will have plentiful bike racks available.

⏰ The tour runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and once you have your booklet, you can visit the properties in any order you choose.

For complete guest information, tour locations, and everything you need to know before you go, visit poudrelandmarks.org.

🎟️ Get your tickets today:
Historic Homes Tour Tickets

We can't wait to see you on the tour! Come explore some of Fort Collins' historic treasures with us! ❤️

By Poudre Landmarks

09/10/2026

Two days until you get to step inside Fort Collins history!

The 42nd Annual Fort Collins Historic Homes Tour is almost here—and if you’ve been thinking about going, now is the time to get your tickets!

On Saturday, September 12, explore eight fascinating historic properties throughout Fort Collins, including four historic private residences and four treasured historic sites.

You’ll discover beautiful architecture, hidden details, fascinating stories—and maybe a few surprises along the way.

And there’s one more reason not to wait:

Advance tickets are $5 less than tickets purchased on the day of the tour!

So why pay more when you can get your ticket now and save?

Saturday, September 12
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Eight historic properties
Buy your advance ticket today and save $5! https://bit.ly/4h4u6Rf

Gather your friends, grab your tickets, and get ready for a day of exploring Fort Collins’ history from the inside.

The doors open Saturday. The savings end when they do!

By Poudre Landmarks