It may not seem like it, but Aurora is more than 125 years old, and that kind of longevity leaves architectural marks. Aurora is loaded with 27 individual landmarks, two historic districts and two cultural heritage sites. Many buildings, houses, farmsteads and schools date back as far as the mid-1800s, and most of them are open for tours, programs or exploration today. In fact, most of them are still in use.

In 2014, The Aurora History Museum launched Story Line, an audio tour that people can access at any time by calling in on their cell phones. The tour includes historic sites like the St. Therese School built in 1956 and the Aurora Fox Arts Center, built in 1946. Anyone can call 303-739-6681, type in a corresponding historic location and hear all about it from museum curators. Check some of these places out the next time you’re nearby.

Bicentennial Art Center

Address: 13655 E. Alameda Ave.

Built: 1938

Landmarked: 2012

Aurora Historic Landmark #26: The Bicentennial Art Center offers a variety of pottery classes for children and adults, including hand building, throwing on the wheel, specialty classes and workshops.

John Gully Homestead House

Address: 200 S. Chambers Road

Built: 1870-1871

Landmarked: 1986

Aurora Historic Landmark #3: This small house is the oldest surviving home in Aurora. The ranch, house, stables and corrals that make up the Gully Family homestead were originally located at Mississippi Avenue and Chambers Road, where this Irish immigrant family raised cattle and horses.

Centennial House

Address: 1671 Galena St.

Built: 1890

Landmarked: 1993

Aurora Historic Landmark #11: The Centennial House is a Queen Anne Victorian style home. It is the oldest of the nine remaining houses Donald Fletcher built.



Aurora Fox Arts Center

Address: 9900 E. Colfax Ave.

Built: 1946

Landmarked: 1987

Aurora Historic Landmark #5: A fire forced the theater to close in 1981. The building was restored in 1983-85 and currently operates as a performing arts center owned by the City of Aurora.

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Trolley Trailer No. 610

Address: Restored and installed in Growing Home exhibit at Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway

Built: 1913

Landmarked: 2008

Aurora Historic Landmark #24: Growing Home is a permanent exhibit about Aurora’s history featuring Trolley Trailer No. 610, a fully-restored 1913 historic trolley trailer found in an abandoned home in Aurora.

Coal Creek Schoolhouse

Address: Near intersection of 1st Avenue & Chambers Road

Built: 1928

Landmarked: 2001

Aurora Historic Landmark #18: The Murphy family homesteaded in Arapahoe County in 1865. One of the first schools in the Aurora area was the Coal Creek Schoolhouse, a one-room building originally located near the intersection of East Jewell Avenue and Powhaton Mile Road.

Stanley Aviation – Stanley Marketplace

Address: 2501 Dallas St.

Built: 1954

Landmarked: 2015

Aurora Historic Landmark #27: Stanley Aviation was an aerospace company started by Robert M. Stanley, the aviation pioneer, in Buffalo, New York in 1948. Today, it is the Stanley Marketplace.

Melvin School

Address: 4950 S. Laredo St.

Built: 1922

Landmarked: 1986

Aurora Historic Landmark #1: This two-room schoolhouse originally served the outlying community of Melvin. In 1949, the structure was moved to make way for the Cherry Creek Reservoir. After 17 years of use as a tavern, the Cherry Creek Valley Historical Society moved the school to its current location on the grounds of Smokey Hill High School.