Community Forum to Develop a Shared Vision for the Future of Historic Resources in Sierra City.

 
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, May 23. 2026, at the Old Sierra City Schoolhouse, 418 Main Street, Sierra City, including a brief walking tour of the Sierra City Core
The Sierra County Historical Society received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to fund a Community Forum with the goal of developing a shared vision for the Future of Historic Resources in Sierra City.
The Forum will be facilitated by Gretchen Hilyard Boyce, Groundwork Preservation, LLC, of Colfax CA and hosted by Tom and Shirley Butt. Lunch will be served.
The objective is to explore opportunities for the community to reap benefits from its wealth of historic resources, with possible goals to include increasing business opportunities, tapping funding sources and tax benefits for rehabilitation of historic properties, increasing local pride, and providing educational materials.
Following the Forum, a Preservation Priorities Report will be prepared and circulated. The report will synthesize community input, highlight shared values and priorities, and identify opportunities for celebrating and protecting local historic resources. It will also outline practical next step -- such as potential partnerships, research and documentation needs, and preservation incentives and strategies—that can serve as a foundation for future preservation initiatives and funding opportunities.
If you have not already done so, please let me know if you will be attending, and please forward this email to any individuals you believe may be interested.
Address any questions or inquiries to Tom Butt, 510-220-1577, [email protected].
 
Community Forum to Develop a Shared Vision for the Future of Historic Resources in Sierra City
Saturday, May 23, 2026
10am to 2pm
Old Sierra City Schoolhouse, 418 Main Street, Sierra City
 
Agenda:
10:00-10:15am: Introductions (15 mins)
Name, affiliation, and "What's one word that comes to mind when you think of Sierra City?"
10:15-11:15am: Presentation: Workshop Goals/Opportunities for Historic Preservation (60 mins)
            Grant Overview
Workshop Objectives
Exercise: Postcard (30 mins)
●        Write a postcard from the future Sierra City (10 mins)
●        Participants share out 1 line (15 mins)
Statistics and Current Economics
Historic Preservation Incentives
Historic District Incentives
Afternoon Overview
11:15am-12:00pm: Exercise 2: Walking Tour and Map Annotation (45 mins)
Brief walking tour of Sierra City with participants annotating maps (45 mins)

• Circle places that feel most important to protect or celebrate
• Cross off anything you're worried about losing
• Put a star where you see potential — for a new use, a story to tell, a business, an event

12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch and Discussion (1 hour)
Discussion: 

• Everyone pin up their maps
• Where are the clusters of sites/buildings people marked? 
• What surprised you looking at the town this way? 

1:00-1:30pm: Discussion about preservation priorities (30 mins)
●        How can we prioritize preservation of our rich historic resources to bring back economic opportunities in Sierra City?
●        Identify clusters or themes of ideas
1:30-2:00pm: Wrap up and next steps (30 mins)
●        Name the 3 priority themes that emerged from the discussion
●        Explain what the Priorities Report will contain and schedule
●        Assess interest in Historic Preservation and ask how individuals want to be involved in next steps?