Historic Structures and Tours

Guided Tours

Explore Lakewood's distinct past with a 60-minute guided tour of Heritage Lakewood historic structures. Stroll through historic Belmar Park, once home of The Denver Post heiress May Bonfils Stanton, as you hear about life in early Lakewood. An experienced guide will lead you through the museum’s historic structures such as the 1930s farmhouse, the 1948 Valentine Diner and the 1920s Country School.

Book a Tour

Please call 303-987-7850 to book your tour!

Fees

$5 adults
$4 seniors age 65+
$3 Youth age 3-12
2 and under free

Saturday Showcase!

Featuring a different historic structure each month

Swing by Heritage Lakewood on the first Saturday of each month as friendly, knowledgeable guides open the doors to our iconic buildings. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the period while immersed in the past. Showcase hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and may be subject to changing weather conditions. No reservation required.

March 1: Peerless Gas Station

April 5: Variety Store and Ethel’s Beauty Salon

May 3: Caretaker’s Cottage

June 7: Tour ALL the historic buildings during “Rockin’ Block Party,” 5-8 p.m.

July 5: 1930s Farmhouse

August 2: Streer-Peterson House

Walking Tours

The outdoor self-guided walking tour provides an easy way to learn more about local history, Heritage Lakewood buildings and the Belmar Park area. A brochure, including a map, is available free of charge at the Heritage Lakewood Visitor Center or you can download it below.

The inside of the structures can be viewed during guided tours only.

Walking Tour Locations(PNG, 3MB)

Walking Tour Map(PNG, 501KB)

Map

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Historical Luncheons and Lectures

Dive into local history topics with lecture-style programs at Heritage Lakewood. Staff and special guests will focus in on a new topic for each session.

Learn More

History Happy Hour

Journey back in time with fellow history enthusiasts as we explore exciting themes tied to Lakewood's past.

Historical Luncheons

Enjoy a delightful lunch and lecture in a Heritage Lakewood historic space. These luncheons are great ways to meet fellow history enthusiasts in fun and educational settings.

Sneak Peeks and Snacks

Join us for these new research-focused workshops led by a curator in the historic Caretaker's Cottage.

Museum Store Discount

The Museum Store offers historical luncheon attendees a 10% discount on all items in the gift shop, excluding consignment items. It must be used on the day of the luncheon program and cannot be combined with any other discounts.

Belmar Estate Center (1910s-1930s)

Auction House

Circa 1930s
Original to the hobby farm and mansion estate of May Bonfils, daughter of the Denver Post co-founder Frederick Bonfils, the Auction House was used as an office when May Bonfils and her husband, Charles Stanton, sold sheep and cattle.

Tractor Sheds

Circa 1930s or earlier
These two white pole buildings contain vintage vehicles and are original buildings from the Bonfils Estate.

Calving Barn

Circa 1910
This barn is another building original to the Bonfils’ hobby farm. It was originally painted white to match the outbuildings that were once here.

Caretaker's Cottage

Circa 1910
Although it was a farmhouse prior to the Bonfils's era, this cottage was used to house the caretaker of May Bonfils's farm in later years. It now provides a public research space.

Belmar Gates and Mansion

1937
The Irongate Offices now sit where May Bonfils’ mansion, Belmar, once stood. For preservation, the gates have been removed and are in transition to a permanent display at Belmar Park.

Kountze Lake and Boat House

Kountze Lake is a long-lasting lake that was enlarged for May Bonfils’s boats, and now the paths around it are a popular place for dog-walkers and birdwatchers alike!

Farm Center (1910s-1930s)

Country School

Built 1860s, 1920s interpretation
Although first built as a Methodist Episcopal Church in Arvada, this building served for many years as a one-room school for students of various grades taught by only one teacher. In 1919, an additional classroom was added to accommodate the area’s growing population.

Glen Creighton Pump House and Matthews Water Tower

1919 and 1932
During the early 1900s it was important to acquire and store water for home and farm use because local water companies didn't exist.

Farmhouse and Turkey Coop

Built 1880s, 1930s interpretation
This structure and the coop behind it demonstrate a Depression-era family home for turkey farmers.

Streer-Peterson House

Built 1880s, 1920s interpretation
Morris and Sophia Streer, a young Jewish immigrant family from Russia, lived in the house from 1918 to 1921. The Cason Howell Windmill (1922) cycled water from a well.

Red Barn

Built by the City of Lakewood in the 1990s
This barn is used to store vintage tractors.

Colfax Hub (1940s-1960s)

88¢ Variety Store and Ethel's Beauty Salon

1950s and 1960s
Built in 1948, this building was first used as a laundry/cleaners. During the 1950s it became a five-and-dime store, which is exhibited in the front room. Finally, it became a beauty parlor/barbershop operated by Gil and Ethel Gomez during the 1960s. Ethel’s Beauty Salon, with many of her original fixtures, is featured in the back room.

White Way Grill

1948
The White Way Grill, named for the bright lights of the nearby Fox Theatre in Aurora, seats eight customers and served people who moved to the Denver area or traveled Colfax to visit the mountains after WWII.

Peerless Gas Station

Built 1930s-1940s, 1954 interpretation
After WWII, people traveled using gas-powered vehicles, making stations an important part of commercial Lakewood. Stations like this fell out of use after the construction of I-70, which diverted traffic from Colfax, forever changing the nature of the once-booming throughway.

Wide Acres Interurban Stop

Built early 1900s, used until 1950
Previously located on the interurban rail line running from Denver through Lakewood to Golden, this shelter is representative of the numerous stops along the line.

Estes Motel

Built 1949
Many motels opened along Colfax after WWII for people traveling to the mountains before construction of I-70. This building was part of a larger motel complex operated by the Estes family during the 1950s.