IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section A

Abstract

The 2025 AMPS Heritages conference, meeting at Greenwich in London, seeks to explore the myriad modern challenges facing historic sites around the world. The Colorado State Capitol in Denver may seem literally and figuratively on the other side of the planet, but it offers an example of the demands and expectations that can pull one place in many different directions, and the desperate struggle for a site to serve in many ways for many interests. The Colorado State Capitol is the seat of government for an American state, whose hallways often resonate with tensions between the government branches and agencies that operate within it. But it also serves as a tourist destination, a history museum, an art gallery, a gathering place for rallies and celebrations and protests, a stage for formal events from inaugurations to memorial services, a park for local residents, a filming location, and more. The structure that serves as the physical embodiment of a political community has constant demands that often conflict between openness and security, between accessibility and preservation. To those who work within its walls, navigating these challenges can feel like strolling through an uncharted minefield. This paper seeks to demonstrate how those charged with carrying out the capitol’s diverse duties endeavor to accommodate the often contradictory demands placed on such a significant, symbolic site. Having conducted research and given tours at the capitol since 1997, I can offer a unique insight into such challenges faced in Denver as well as around the world.