Buena Vista Heritage is keeping one of Chaffee County's most beloved historic buildings safe, welcoming and full of life. We're proud to support them through Moonlight Mondays.

WHO THEY ARE

Buena Vista Heritage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves and shares the history of Buena Vista and Chaffee County. Through education, conservation and community involvement, they work to ignite curiosity and foster understanding in current and future generations.

WHAT THEY'RE UP TO

Walk through the doors of Buena Vista's historic Courthouse on any given week, and you might hear kids practicing their dance steps, find a homeschool group gathered for a lesson, or see a wedding coming together in the beautifully restored courtroom. Built in 1882, the Courthouse is much more than a museum. It's a year-round gathering place where schoolchildren explore local history, neighbors attend lectures, families celebrate milestones and community groups find a place to call their own.

For Buena Vista Heritage, preserving history means keeping it alive, welcoming and part of everyday life for generations to come.

WHERE YOUR MOONLIGHT MONDAY DONATION GOES

When you're caring for a building that's nearly 145 years old, surprises come with the territory. At the Courthouse, the team found burned electrical outlets, deteriorating wiring hidden inside the walls and light fixtures that had caught fire. Buena Vista Heritage has been tackling these problems through a series of major preservation projects, and there's still important work ahead. Every dollar raised through Moonlight Monday helps make the Courthouse safer, protect its history and keep its doors open for the community.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR BUENA VISTA HERITAGE?

Buena Vista Heritage recently received a $250,000 grant from Colorado's State Historical Fund to continue restoring the Courthouse. This next phase builds on the emergency electrical work already completed, addressing more electrical and fire safety concerns while restoring historic floors, ceilings, windows and doors. To make it happen, they need to raise nearly $97,000 in matching funds. The goal isn't just to restore the Courthouse to its former beauty, but to make sure it stays safe, welcoming and full of life for the next generation of Buena Vista residents.

A STORY THAT STUCK WITH US

The old courtroom was once a place where judges heard cases and big decisions were made. After years of careful restoration, it's become one of Buena Vista's most unique gathering spots. Kids learn to dance beneath its historic ceiling, couples exchange vows and neighbors fill the room for lectures, performances and celebrations. The room hasn't lost its history; it's found a new purpose. As Buena Vista Heritage puts it, they haven't just saved a room from the past. They've given it a future.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

You don't have to be a history buff to get involved! Volunteers share stories with museum visitors, help with special events, work in the historic apple orchard, care for collections and lend a hand behind the scenes. Donations, memberships and community partnerships are just as important, helping care for these historic properties and keep programs going.