Temple Aaron | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
Ownership | Temple Aaron of Colorado |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Trinidad, Colorado |
Country | United States |
Location in Colorado | |
Geographic coordinates | 37°09′59″N 104°30′11″W / 37.16635°N 104.50292°W / 37.16635; -104.50292 |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Isaac Rapp (Bulger & Rapp) |
Type | Synagogue architecture |
Style | Moorish Revival |
Date established | 1883 (as a congregation) |
Completed | 1889 |
Website | |
templeaaron | |
Temple Aaron | |
Part of | Corazón de Trinidad historic district (ID73000482) |
Significant dates | |
Designated NHL | December 13, 2023 |
Designated CP | February 28, 1973 |
[1] |
Temple Aaron, officially Temple Aaron of Colorado, is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 407 South Maple Street, in Trinidad, Colorado, in the United States.[2] The temple is among the oldest synagogues in the state, and in December 2023 it was designated as a National Historic Landmark.
German-Jewish settlers founded the congregation in 1883,[3] while the building was completed in 1889, designed by Isaac Rapp in the exotic Moorish Revival style. A restoration was completed in 2006.[4]
From its peak in 1917 with 250 regular members, the congregation slowly began to decline, until the synagogue ran out of endowed funding, and the congregation could not afford to maintain the building.[5] In 2016, the synagogue was listed for sale for $395,000;[6] and added to Colorado's most endangered properties list the following year.[7] Over a number of years, funds were raised through a non-for-profit organisation that enabled the synagogue to be preserved.[8]
In 1973 the temple was assessed as a contributing property in the National Register of Historic Places-listed Corazón de Trinidad historic district.[9] On December 13, 2023, the United States Department of the Interior designated the temple a National Historic Landmark.[10]