Richard Moe
PRESERVING NATIONAL TREASURES

"The character of Telluride is intact, and it was one of the first things that attracted me to this area"

by Mary McLean

Its not suprising that the president of a national organization dedicated to conserving America's diverse historic places and creating more livable communities was attracted to Telluride. “Telluride has done a better job of preserving its heritage than almost anyplace in the West,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “The character of Telluride is intact, and it was one of the first things that attracted me to this area,” stated Richard.

Richard and his wife, Julia, first saw Telluride in 1989 when they visited sons Eric and Andrew, who were working for Telski. The next year, the family purchased a home in Ophir. “I was drawn to the incredibly rich heritage of the area and that of the Southwest,” he said. At that time, Richard had long been engaged in public service at the city, state and federal levels and with his law practice in Washington, D.C. His lifelong passion for history was ignited while researching a book on Civil War history. Richard learned the heritage of Civil War battlefields were fast becoming lost through land development. The valiant efforts of the Civil War Trust, engaged in trying to purchase that land, sparked his involvement in preserving historic sites. “It was a turning point for me,” he said. The book was published in 1993 and, soon after, Richard was elected as president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1997, he co-authored a study of the causes of urban decline and the use of historic preservation as a tool for revitalization.

Richard's dedication has considerably diversified and expanded the trust’s mission by strengthening its financial base and commitment while advocating smart growth and control of city sprawl through projects such as the National Main Street Center, which emphasizes preservation as a tool for revitalizing traditional business districts. “One of best examples is the old warehouse district in Denver, originally slated for demolition and now converted to lofts and commercial buildings,” he said. “It’s the liveliest and most attractive part of Denver. Mixed usage makes for very attractive communities because they reinforce each other; if you get people living downtown, economic activity will follow.”

As a member of the Ford Foundation and with his demanding schedule as president of the Trust overseeing its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and six regional offices, Richard and his family still manage to spend most of their summers in Telluride relaxing, hiking and touring throughout the Four Corners. “Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, the Navajo Reservation, Silverton, Ouray; we love it all,” he said.

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