Article • National Register and National Historic Landmarks Celebrate Jewish Heritage Month

Trinidad's Temple Aaron

Astrid Liverman/NPS

When people think of Jewish immigration in the United States, they picture the tenements of New York City. But what about the boomtowns of the West? Temple Aaron, located in Trinidad, Colorado, is nationally significant for its connection with the westward migration of Jewish immigrants from Europe between 1840-1924. Temple Aaron is the second-oldest known synagogue in continuous use in its original location west of the Mississippi River.

Temple Aaron was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 as part of the Corazon de Trinidad Historic District. However, the nomination did not address Temple Aaron’s individual significance, which is the focus of the 2023 National Historic Landmark nomination.