Red Rocks Park and Mount Morrison Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Named National Historic Landmark

Red Rocks Park and the Mount Morrison Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp today were designated National Historic Landmarks by the National Park Service and Department of the Interior. The designation recognizes sites that possess exceptional value and quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States.

“Being awarded National Historic Landmark status is a great achievement, but this is particularly exciting because of the special place Red Rocks holds in the hearts of everyone who calls Colorado home,” Mayor Hancock said. “Anyone who’s seen a concert under a star-filled Rocky Mountain night or hiked through the awe inspiring landscape to the CCC Camp can attest to the reverence you feel by just being there. Not only is Red Rocks the jewel of our Mountain Parks System and the premier amphitheatre in the country, it now holds a well-earned iconic status in the storied history of the United States.”

Red Rocks Park, known for its towering 300-foot sandstone formation and 200-mile panoramic view of Denver and the plains, has become a destination for Colorado residents and tourists from around the world. The amphitheater, world-renowned for its natural acoustics and majestic landscape, often appears at the top of various lists of premier concert venues.

The announcement by the National Park Service noted, “The outstanding architecture and landscape architecture of Red Rocks Park and Mount Morrison Civilian Conservation Corps Camp illustrate the principles and practices of New Deal-era naturalistic park design and master planning in a metropolitan park as well as the use of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) labor to develop such a park. Mount Morrison CCC Camp is one of the few surviving camps in the nation that retains a high concentration of original resources. The amphitheater in the park is one of America’s best known performing arts venues, famous for its natural acoustics, design and setting.”

The City of Denver has owned and operated the two sites since purchasing the land in 1928. The City and County of Denver worked closely with the National Park Service to prepare the nomination for Red Rocks Park and the Mount Morrison CCC Camp. Denver Parks and Recreation manages Red Rocks Park as part of its Mountain Parks system. Denver Arts & Venues operates Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Established in 1935, the National Historic Landmarks Program is administered by the National Park Service on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior. If designated, property ownership remains the same, but each site receives a plaque and is eligible for technical preservation advice.