Central High School Historical Overview, written by Dave Walker and shared on the Pueblo Colorado…Are You From there, Back in the “DAY?” Facebook Page on April 16, 2026
- Establishment: Founded in 1881, it was the second high school built for the city of Pueblo.
- Architecture: Designed by C. R. Manning in the Italianate style, the building is constructed of rough-faced light pink rhyolite with creamy Manitou sandstone trim. It features a prominent 80-foot bell tower with a mansard roof.
- The “Pueblo Plan”: In the 1890s, Superintendent Preston Search used this building to initiate the “Search Plan,” one of the first American attempts at individualized education that allowed students to progress at their own pace.
- Transition: It served as a high school until 1905, after which it became an elementary school (Central Grade School) following the opening of the “new” Central High School on Orman Avenue.
- Preservation: The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Although scheduled for demolition that same year, it was rescued in 1980 and later housed the Pueblo Ballet.
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Key Historical Milestones
Year Event
1881
High school founded and building construction began.
1882
Building officially opened on East Pitkin Avenue.
1889
Introduced vocational education, the first school district west of the Missouri River to do so.
1905
Supplanted by the new Neoclassical Central High School building.
1917
Temporarily reused for high school classes after a major fire damaged the new Orman Avenue building.
1979
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Notable Legacy
Central High School is the only high school in the United States to have two Medal of Honor recipients: William J. Crawford (Class of ’36) and Carl L. Sitter (Class of ’40). It also maintains the “Bell Game” against Centennial High School, the longest high school football rivalry west of the Mississippi River, dating back to 1892