The La Jara Buddhist Temple in the San Luis Valley is among 75 new sites History Colorado is recognizing for its role in the state's history. It's now on the Colorado Register of Historic Properties.
The La Jara Buddhist Temple opened in 1937 and served as a place of worship until 1993, according to a recent press release. The building also hosted youth Japanese cultural and language classes. Prominent members of Colorado’s Japanese Buddhist community were known to visit, such as Reverend Yoshitaka Tamai of Denver.
The Alamosa Spanish Cemetery is also being considered for historical designation, but it’s still pending final review. The cemetery opened in 1913 in response to segregated burials for Hispanos in other cemeteries. It continues to be cared for by community volunteers.
The additions mark the halfway point in History Colorado’s goal to identify and add 150 places that tell the stories of communities of color, women and LGBTQ+ Coloradans for the national list.
When the state agency did an audit in 2020, only 4 percent of sites on Colorado's Register of Historic Properties represented those types of under-recognized communities. That led the agency to create the Colorado Heritage for All initiative, which is focused on telling local stories that have previously been underrepresented.
Of the 75 new sites located around the state, the community representation includes:
- 35% Black history
- 20% Asian American Pacific Islander history
- 13% Latino/Chicano history
- 10% LGBTQ+ history
Some locations are also intersectional, representing communities of color and women, the press release said.
The additions are part of the state's celebrations for Colorado’s 150th and America's 250th anniversaries next year.
The state is still accepting site recommendations for historical designation.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to clarify the historic designation of the La Jara Temple.
History Colorado is a financial supporter of Colorado Public Radio, which operates KRCC. Financial supporters have no editorial influence.
