Storage & Transfer Building (1906) - now the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

The tour begins on the steps of the BMOCA Museum at 1750 13th street.

In the late 19th century, Boulder was a supply town for mining in the foothills. New farms were developed to the east and north of downtown. This neighborhood was a mix of industrial, commercial and residential properties. Canyon was called Water Street, with railroad tracks running down the center. The present-day 13th Street Plaza was the site of the Coal Gasification Plant that supplied fuel for street lamps. There was a fruit distribution warehouse and lumber yard where the Atrium building is today. A spur train line curved from Water Street across the area where the Municipal building is now and ended at the new University. The area was heavily polluted, smelly and noisy, with constant traffic between the passenger and freight depots. Much of that early history has been lost; the tracks were removed by 1960 and the passenger depot was moved east to be restored and repurposed as a restaurant.

The Storage and Transfer Building (now BMOCA) remains as a tangible link to that period of Boulder’s history. Built in 1906 as a warehouse for goods shipped by train, the City Storage and Transfer Company was established by Martin B. Larson, who lived with his younger brother Knudt on the property. The Larson Brothers operated this storage business until Martin’s death in 1938. The business continued at this location until 1961.

From here walk across 13th street at Arapahoe Avenue and enter Central Park along the path paralleling Boulder Creek. Stop anywhere along the path. Be careful of fast moving bicyclists!