The historic Emerson School in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood is home to the Denver office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Denver, Inc., Colorado Preservation, Inc., and several other non-profit organizations. The National Trust, owners of the building, performed a $3.2 million rehabilitation which included a new geothermal heating and cooling system, a complete interior rehabilitation, window restoration, and new fencing, trees and landscaping.

Built in 1885, the Emerson School was designed by Colorado’s first master architect, Robert Roeschlaub, who was known for his innovative school designs. It is the oldest remaining example of a Roeschlaub-designed school in Colorado. Closed in 1979, the Emerson School was adapted in the 1980s to create a senior center and medical clinic.

The Emerson School was donated to the National Trust by Capitol Hill Senior Resources, Inc. in 2010. In addition, one of the Capitol Hill Senior Resources trustees donated a $2.0 million endowment to the National Trust for the long-term maintenance of the building.