Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

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Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

Discover Heritage. Explore Culture. www.poudreheritage.org

The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (Cache NHA) extends for 45 miles and includes the lands within the 100-year flood plain of the Cache la Poudre River, from the eastern edge of the Roosevelt National Forest to the east side of Greeley, a quarter mile west of the confluence with the South Platte. The Cache NHA was designated by Congress in 2009 as a place where natural, cultural, and

historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally significant landscape. The Cache NHA, managed by the Poudre Heritage Alliance, strives to promote various historical and cultural opportunities, engage visitors and residents in the river corridor, and inspire learning, preservation, and stewardship.

09/04/2026

Who recognizes this building? 🔎 Hint: The person it's currently named after is in the photo!

Built in 1881, it was first used as a photography studio by George T. Wilkins. In 1896, Wilkins sold the property to Thomas Quinn. Three years later, Quinn sold the building to Benjamin T. Whedbee, and for the next five years it was home to a millinery shop.

When Whedbee sold the property in 1906, the buyer, Commercial Bank and Trust, planned to clear the site. Frank Collamer stepped in and purchased it instead, moving it from its original location at 146 N. College Ave to its current address at 313 N. Meldrum.

The building found new life as a neighborhood grocery store. Collamer added an L-shaped, wood-frame addition around the north and west sides of the original structure, with the customer entrance facing Meldrum. He later passed the business to his daughter, who ran it until 1943.

In May 2023, the building was donated to Historic Larimer County by Jim Burrill. Thanks to community support, including a Community Grant from Cache NHA in 2024, the store is entering its newest chapter as a piece of local history.

Check it out during the Poudre Landmarks Historic Homes Tour on September 12th!

Source: https://ow.ly/kk2C50ZIn9a

📷 Archive at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery [H25132], Circa 1910's, Black and white image of family group on porch of Collamer Grocery. From left to right: Lenox cardboard "lady" advertisement, Emma Collamer Malaby, Minerva Collamer Stoneburner, Effie Collamer Ayres, Grandma Achsah Alice Hulse Collamer, Frank B. Collamer (the son), Ruth Collamer Burrill Dermody standing on the step, and baby Laura Collamer Vermilya Rutherford sitting on the bottom step. From private collection of Jim Burrill.

09/03/2026

Our popular Poudre Pub Talks are starting soon and we're kicking off the season with an electrifying first event you won't want to miss. Bring your curiosity and grab a pint!

Join Jeff Wadsworth, President & CEO of Poudre Valley REA, along with members of the PVREA team, for Power Hour: Who Said Electricity Can't Be Fun?! Discover how electricity powers our everyday lives, explore the future of energy in Northern Colorado, and hear from the experts behind the scenes. This conversation is sure to spark your interest, pun absolutely intended.⚡

Did you know Mash Lab Brewing & Kitchen serves dinner? Stop by early and grab some grub before the talk starts or stay after and chat with your new friends.

📅 September 23, 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 Mash Lab Brewing & Kitchen
🎤 Jeff Wadsworth, President & CEO of Poudre Valley REA
RSVP now to save your spot 👉 https://poudreheritage.org/poudre-pub-talks/

💙 Support the Poudre Pub Talks: Each attendee will receive one complimentary entry into the door prize drawing (must be present to win). Guests are also welcome to make a donation of any amount to receive an additional entry. Your generous support helps make community programs like the Poudre Pub Talk series possible.

💙 Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for making this incredible series possible: Poudre Valley REA, Greeley Recreation

08/28/2026

Aerial view of Windsor, CO in 1968.

What do you see that’s changed, and what’s remained the same? 👀

📷Image Courtesy of the Town of Windsor Museums, Windsor Parks, Recreation & Culture [253], Aerial View of Windsor. Main & Walnut, 5th & 4th. Town Hall or Arts & Heritage Center. Windsor Lake. Mill. Train Depot in original location. First United Methodist.

08/26/2026

For Dog Appreciation Day, we’re celebrating the four-legged members of the Cache NHA family! 🐾🐶

🐾 Tutka (Tutka Bay) — Hiking, frisbee, and time with her people.
🐾 Isla (Isla Bean, Beanie We**ie, Skinny Mini) — Sunbathing, farmers markets, and water in all forms.
🐾 India (Indi, Indiana Jones, Pudge) — Balls, squirrels, and working for her dinner.
🐾 Trixie (Trix) — Fetch, treats, and keeping her siblings in line.
🐾 Lucy (Lou) — Patio sunbathing, naps, and making sure dinner is served on time.
🐾 Finnley (Finn) — Sofa time, playing with Trixie, and helping clean up leftovers.
🐾 Poppy (Popstar) — Cheese, walks, and chasing the hose.
And remembering Apollo, the goodest boy. 🤍

We’re lucky to have these furry companions as part of our extended team! Do you have a four-legged coworker? Tell us about them in the comments! 🐾

08/22/2026

Today, as we kick off National Park Week, we'd like to get things started with a dose of nostalgia, featuring CO's very own Rocky Mountain National Park through five decades.

What are your favorite memories of Rocky Mountain National Park?

🔎Fun fact: While the Cache NHA is a nonprofit, NPS provides technical assistance and distributes matching federal funds from Congress.

📷 Archive at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery [COMT-2_078] Poudre Lakes, Milner Pass, Estes Park, headwaters of Cache La Poudre. One of a collection of lantern slides taken by the Colorado Mountain Club within the Poudre Canyon, Chimney Rock, and Sandstone Regions, 1910's.
📷 Archive at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery [M36993] Deer in Rocky Mountain National Park, with view of Long's Peak, Estes Park, Colorado, 1920's.
📷Archive at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery [M37041] View of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado, 1930's.
📷Archive at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery [Ha2940] Poudre Lake, Larimer County, Colorado, 1940's.
📷 Archive at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery [Ha4916] School buses with excursion party at ski lodge in Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, Colorado, 1950's.

08/20/2026

This fall, we're excited to partner with Windsor Parks, Recreation & Culture and offer one-of-a-kind guided tours. Come experience local history through the eyes of our Heritage Area Guides.

💧Windsor Lake History Stroll
Level: Beginner | Cost: $5
Wednesday, September 10th, 2026 | 10AM-12PM

Stroll through time along Windsor Lake and discover the legacy of the area! We'll start the tour at the B.H. Eaton House (130 N. 5th Street). From there, we'll continue along the lake and learn the visionary impact of one man's work.

🚲Pedaling the Poudre
Level: Beginner-Intermediate, must have a bike | Cost $10
Wed, Sept 23rd | 10AM-12PM
OR Fri, Oct 23rd | 4PM-6PM

Water doesn’t just flow downhill—it follows a path shaped by people, policy, and place. Ride the trail with us—and see the Poudre River from a fresh perspective! We'll start at Kyger open space and end at Eastman Park.

Register through the Town of Windsor recreator: https://recreationliveshere.com/160/Activity-Guide

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

08/19/2026

Poudre Peach Salad
🍑Peaches from Poppy's Peaches in Bath Garden Center and Nursery
🥬Greens from Native Hill Farm
🌿Herbs from your local Farmers Market (we recommend basil or mint)
🧀Cheese from MouCo Cheese Company

Peach Vinaigrette
Blend 1/2 small peach, olive oil, lemon juice, local honey, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.

🥖Serve with a side of toasted sourdough from The Bread Chic or another local baker.

A recent story from our community: Earlier this year, we had a visitor stop by the B.H. Eaton House who grew up playing in the house. We wish we'd caught his name....internet, do you your thing?

He shared how a peach tree once grew on the property. In honor of peach season, we'd like to share a recipe inspired by local vendors at the Farmers Market.

Curious to find your local Farmers Market? Check out our curated tour: https://poudreheritage.org/tours/curated-tours/farmers-markets-of-northern-colorado/

08/18/2026

After a summer hiatus, one of your favorite event series is returning this fall and we're excited to kick things off at the end of September! Grab a pint, bring your curiosity, and join us for evenings of great conversation at breweries across NoCO.

Check out the full lineup below. All events run 6-7 PM.
💬 Power Hour: Who Said Electricity Can't Be Fun? | Sept. 23 | Mash Lab Brewing & Kitchen
💬 What's the Moo? Inside Morning Fresh Dairy Farm | Oct. 8 | Salt Road Brewing
💬 The Heart & Science of Homebrewing | Nov. 5 | New Belgium Brewing - Fort Collins
💬 Roots Run Deep: Native Grasses & Soil Health | Jan. 7 | Peculier Brewing
💬 Why Cities Need Farms | Feb. 4 | WeldWerks Brewing Co.

📅 Save this post and mark your calendars! Be on the lookout for registration links coming soon so you can sign up and reserve your spot.

💙 Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for making this incredible series possible: Poudre Valley REA and City of Greeley Government

08/12/2026

What is a Kinikinik?

a) A made-up word
b) A local plant
c) A location
d) Both b and c

Located up the Poudre Canyon, Kinikinik is an unincorporated community. Even in its busier days, the community remained tiny, with a store and vacation cabins drawing in local visitors.

While the cabins had no running water and shared a communal toilet, the scenery drew frequent guests. Many guests came for the proximity to the Cache la Poudre River and the recreation opportunities it offered.

Customers at the store often used a shared tin cup to grab a drink from the horse trough. The water was piped in from the Roaring Fork River. Drive up the Poudre Canyon and you might spot the old buildings, no longer available for public use, with the history lovingly maintained by the current owners. Thankfully, they stopped offering drinks from the horse trough several decades ago.

Source: https://ow.ly/iJ6750Zwn9m

📷Scott Hays, Kinikinik Store, 2026 Capture the Cache Exhibition

08/07/2026

If you're feeling the rush of Back to School season, take a history break. Here's some historic schoolhouses along the Cache NHA, no gum under the desk included.

🏫Eggers Schoolhouse, Poudre Canyon

Built in 1933, the first class in this one-room log cabin included 10 pupils. Due to heavy winters, the school season ran from March to October. One of the teacher's tasks was to pick up the students every morning. The schoolhouse was later moved and converted into a museum on canyon history.

🏫Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse, Bellvue

Located at Morning Fresh Dairy Farm, this schoolhouse is the only remaining stone schoolhouse in Larimer County. It was in use from 1879-1913. Thanks to the efforts of Sherry Graves, it was added to the Register of Historic Places in 2003. You can see the inside during their dairy tour.

🏫The Yellow Schoolhouse, Fort Collins

The first classroom was located in Auntie Stone's cabin. By 1870, the first real schoolhouse was built in Fort Collins. Eventually community needs outgrew the schoolhouse and it was replaced with a larger building at 318 Re*****on Street.

Full blog: https://ow.ly/PcBN50Zu1WN

📷Archive Fort Collins Museum of Discovery [H11862], circa 1937, Black and white photograph of the Eggers School, District 53, Larimer County Schools, Larimer County, Colorado.
📷Archive Fort Collins Museum of Discovery [H03192], circa 1911, Black and white photograph of the Pleasant Valley School (Still standing on Graves Farm) District # 7, Larimer County, Colorado.
📷Archive Fort Collins Museum of Discovery [H01617], Fort Collins first Public School at 115 Riverside Drive and built in 1870 at a cost of $1100.00.

Address

Eaton House 130 N 5th Street
Windsor, CO
80550

Telephone

(970) 295-4851

Website

http://www.poudreheritage.org/

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