Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing historic preservation in Latinx communities, released its first national list of Endangered Latinx Landmarks last week. The list included Las Barracas, which is located on the Boulder County Golden Farm open space property near Longmont. The structure, according to Boulder County, is one of the last surviving examples of agricultural labor housing in the county.
According to a Boulder County news release, the Endangered Latinx Landmarks list recognizes thirteen sites across ten states that represent migration, resilience, cultural expression, and survival — and that now face urgent threats including demolition, neglect, displacement, and climate change.
Through its Endangered Latinx Landmarks initiative, LHC will gather public attention and resources to safeguard vital landmarks, “ensuring that Latinx heritage is recognized and preserved as a fundamental part of our nation's shared history.” The nonprofit said that the initiative will help to highlight the significance of these places, outline the specific threats they face, and propose preservation solutions, allowing for collective action to preserve Latinx history for future generations.
Las Barracas was nominated to be included in the list earlier this year by Boulder County Parks and Open Space staff.
“Las Barracas is more than a building — it is a living testament to the generations of Latinx immigrant and later migrant laborers who played a central role in Boulder County’s agricultural history,” said Elisabeth Ríos-Brooks, Cultural Resource Program Coordinator, Boulder County Parks & Open Space. “Preserving this site means honoring their stories of resilience and struggle, and ensuring that future generations understand how their work helped feed and sustain our communities.”
The county said that the site dates back to the World War II era, when the structure was originally constructed as a military barrack. In the mid-20th century, it was repurposed by the Tanaka family to house Mexican migrant farmworkers who labored in Boulder County’s agricultural fields.
“Preservation is about equity, recognition, and survival,” said Sehila Mota Casper, Executive Director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation. “Sites like Las Barracas hold the everyday stories that built this country, and naming them is the first step toward protecting them."
Boulder County announced that Las Barracas was included in the list on September 15, which is the start of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month in Boulder County.
