Funding secured for historic Redstone Cottage 

The Redstone Historical Society has officially secured the funding needed to purchase the historic Redstone Cottage, marking a pivotal milestone in its mission to establish a museum dedicated to the mining-era legacy of the Crystal River Valley.

Days after the Redstone Historical Society reported earlier this month falling $25,000 shy of securing ownership of the Redstone Cottage, a private donor contributed enough funds for the purchase. Had the $879,000 asking price not been reached by July 31, the cottage risked being sold to a different buyer.

That recent final push was enough to meet the fundraising goal, and it came on the heels of a major announcement: a $250,000 grant awarded to the Historical Society by the History Colorado State Historical Fund. 

The award unlocked a matching commitment of up to $200,000 from Pitkin County, solidifying the acquisition.

“We can now move forward with purchasing the Redstone Cottage,” Redstone Historical Society board member Lisa Mattson said. “We’re grateful for everyone who contributed to preserving this piece of our history and excited to begin developing programming and a space the community will be able to enjoy for generations.”

With funding now secured, the Society enters the next phase: coordinating with both History Colorado and Pitkin County to finalize the purchase of the cottage and begin the process of historic preservation. The cottage is a rare surviving structure from Redstone’s early 20th-century mining era and will serve as the centerpiece of a new local museum.

Board member Tucker Farris underscored the emotional resonance of the moment. 

“The swift movement of the community to move together to help us pursue this once-in-a-generation opportunity has been staggeringly uplifting. I can speak for the entire Historical Society when I share that our gratitude extends beyond words for the wider community’s support,” Farris said. “The road is still stretching out in front of us, but the most significant hurdle to date has been overcome, and we could never have done that without the collective passion for our history and the generosity of our community.”

The project represents years of visioning by the Historical Society, which has long sought to establish a permanent home for its archival materials, photographs, and interpretive displays. 

While much work remains — including rehabilitation of the cottage and development of exhibitions — the financial commitment now ensures the property can be preserved and adapted into a public museum.

“We’ll need the continued support of the community as we move into this next phase of the project,” Mattson added, “and we hope to welcome visitors to experience this historic treasure very soon.” 

As the society turns its focus toward preservation planning and museum development, board members say they remain inspired by the outpouring of local enthusiasm to protect Redstone’s past.

“We look forward to sharing more about our journey in creating the museum at The DeMaestri-Durrett Cottage and the opportunity to preserve, protect, and present the mining-era history of the Ruby of the Rockies,” Farris said.