Taxes from the Colorado casino industry have made the Colorado State Historical Fund the richest in the nation.  Since 1992, over $300 million has been provided to the fund to preserve Colorado's rich history.  Of that amount, 80% is spread across the state through grants for preservation projects, while 20% is returned directly to the mountain towns to refurbish their Victorian buildings and streets.

The State Historical Fund was created in 1990 by the same constitutional amendment that legalized limited stakes gaming in Central City, Black Hawk and Cripple Creek, three former mining camps badly in need of a facelift.  The amendment states that 28% of the state tax revenue generated by gaming must be paid into the historical fund. 

"This investment in historic preservation is an incredible accomplishment that earns the state great respect throughout the country," said Ellen K. Fisher, chair of the Colorado Historical Society, in the fund's recent annual report.