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Steel City Works Center of the West seeks National Park Service grant, outlines archives and community work
Summary
Steel City Works Center of the West briefed council on CF&I history, a pending National Park Service grant request (~$640,000) for building restoration, extensive archival holdings, and local community programs including Bessemer town halls and collaboration with Rocky Mountain Steel Mill.
The Steel City Works Center of the West updated Pueblo City Council on Nov. 10 on museum preservation plans, archival resources and neighborhood work in Bessemer.
Christina Trujillo, executive director, said the nonprofit applied for a National Park Service grant of about $640,000 to repair the museum building (roof, windows, doors, stucco, drainage and soffits) with work anticipated to begin in 2026 if funded. Trujillo described the center—s stewardship of Colorado Fuel & Iron (CF&I) history — CF&I traces to 1872 and contributed to national infrastructure — and said the museum has one of the most complete industrial archives in the country, including more than 100,000 digital images, roughly 6,000 cubic feet of company records, some 200 films and over 30,000 maps and drawings.
Trujillo highlighted educational partnerships: the museum collaborates with District 60 teachers to build curriculum aligned with Colorado Department of Education standards and participates in programming for heritage tourism. Admission is $8, and the museum participates in Museums for All to offer reduced rates for SNAP recipients.
She also described monthly Bessemer town‑hall meetings the museum helps facilitate to address local problems such as theft, debris removal and a damaged ditch barrier; the museum raised $1,200 to buy 120 vouchers to assist residents with debris disposal and worked with Mayor Graham to get the ditch repaired quickly.
Trujillo said Rocky Mountain Steel Mill (recent owner of the former EVRAZ properties) has expressed interest in community collaboration, including the potential to gift a small park parcel back to the city and present its strategic plans to council next year.
Council members thanked the presentation and asked about partnerships and museum funding timelines. Trujillo said she would pursue outreach and that the center would continue coordinating with city staff and the new mill ownership.
