BOULDER - The Boulder County Commissioners hosted a celebration of the historic Boulder County Courthouse and its designation as a National Historic Landmark on Friday, May 30, 2025, at the Mall entrance to the Courthouse at 1325 Pearl Street, Boulder. This was a standing room-only event.

The Historic Landmark status was granted in December 2024 in recognition of its significance as the site of the first intentional same-sex marriage in the United States. The Mall was decorated with balloons in rainbow colors throughout and in an archway above the speaker’s podium.  

The ceremony celebrated the official unveiling of the National Historic Landmark plaque. It included music from the Mile High band, refreshments, and speakers in honor of this historic and important recognition of the rights and freedoms fought for and won by people like former Boulder County Clerk Clela Rorex.  

Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin kicked off the speeches, saying that we are here to celebrate equality.

“We are celebrating the historic landmark designation of the Courthouse here in downtown Boulder. This is the highest federal designation,” Loachamin noted.

“First, same sex marriage helps the County with diversity that enriches the lives of all of us from the early 1970s to today,” she added.

“The Boulder Museum, which celebrates diversity, is half off today if you mention you attended this ceremony. We will unveil a new plaque outside and one inside in the foyer,” Loachamin went on to say.

Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann said “This is better for the planet. For participation, you get an A-plus for being here. This ceremony is 50 years in the making.

“We are following in the footsteps of Boulder County Clerk and Recorder Clela Rorex. This is critically important for Colorado history.

“Rorex said it’s time for a change. In 1975, the first same-sex marriage was confirmed with friends. The couple had tried to get a marriage license in Colorado Springs, where they said ‘We don’t do that here. Go to Boulder.’ ”

Rorex is inspiring. She had hurdles remaining, but she continued to do her job as clerk.

“A single vote can change the county,” Stolzmann added. “This courthouse holds a pivotal place and is a national symbol of progress.”

Commissioner Claire Levy, who was on vacation, sent her regrets for having to miss this historic event.

Stolzmann recognized Jennifer Churchill, who got the nomination for the designation on track. James Butler with the Landmarks Board got the nomination signed in December before the January deadline.

Current Clerk and Recorder Molly Fitzpatrick said “This is an extraordinary recognition of an enduring legacy. Equality is a profound truth.” She then mentioned her predecessor, Hillary Hall, who also stood for equality.

“It’s a place where people can come to be confirmed with fairness, compassion, and inclusion. We walk in her footsteps,” Fitzpatrick stated.

In an interview before the ceremony, Fitzpatrick said that she wanted to convey the history of the Clerk’s office, its legacy, and how the County moves forward. She wants people to feel welcome. She has been Clerk and Recorder for six years.

Congressman Joe Neguse, representing the 2nd congressional district, said Boulder County has wonderful clerks. He offered thanks for Rorex’s leadership.

“Given what is happening in our country right now,” he said, “we still value equality and human decency. That is this clerk’s legacy, so it is appropriate to rename the courthouse in her honor.

The choice she faced to recognize that hope is not silence. It is speaking up and standing up. That is what is required of us at this moment. I couldn’t be more grateful for our leaders.”

Mardi Moore, CEO of Rocky Mountain Equality, said she knew Rorex at the end of her life. “She is looking down on us now,” she smiled.

“When she was in Hospice,” Moore continued, “she still worked with a couple. She followed the rule of law.

“She had a profound belief in equality for us all.” She went on to note that she still wears Rorex’s ring and always carries a piece of her.

“No matter how loud the hate gets, we have Boulder County because of the Clerk’s legacy. One brave person risked it all,” Moore said. “Congrats, Boulder County!”

Commissioner Marta Loachamin thanked everyone for coming, and the plaques were revealed.

According to background from Boulder County, the Courthouse became a beacon of equality and justice in 1975 when Rorex, noting no legal barriers, courageously issued the first same-sex marriage license in the nation.

She stated years later, “After having been so deeply involved in the women’s rights movements, who was I to then deny a right to anyone else? It wasn’t my job to legislate morality.” 

Boulder County boasts a diverse and thriving LGBTQ+ community, whose contributions enrich the cultural fabric of the area. Honoring the Courthouse with National Historic Landmark status celebrates this legacy and reaffirms the nation's commitment to justice, equality, and inclusion.  

The Boulder County Courthouse is a historic building on Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado, built in 1933. The Courthouse is a contributing property to the Downtown Boulder Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. 

The Courthouse no longer houses the actual courts for Boulder County, but it remains the seat of County government.

For more information about Boulder County, go to Board of County Commissioners - Boulder County.