What’s Above the Sterling Post Office?

Most of us know Sterling’s historic Post Office, but many may not realize that several floors of history sit right above it.

Built in 1930–1931 as the Sterling Post Office, Federal Building, and Federal Courthouse, the building once served as an important center for federal services in northeastern Colorado.

The first floor remains the Post Office today. Upstairs, however, was a very different world:

• Second Floor: IRS offices, the federal courtroom, and judge’s quarters.

• Third Floor: IRS offices, USDA Soil Conservation offices, and the Post Office Inspector.

• Fourth Floor: USDA Soil Conservation offices.

Today, much of the upper portion is unused, but many original features remain—including historic doors, offices, radiators, hallways, the elevator, and even the former courtroom.

Could these floors have a future again?

Instead of allowing this historic space to remain largely unused, imagine restoring it as affordable downtown apartments, studios, offices, or a combination of all three, while preserving the character that makes the building special.

More people living and working downtown could also mean more foot traffic for local businesses and more activity in the heart of Sterling.

Of course, this is not a current WUS proposal or project—just an idea meant to start a conversation about preserving and reusing something Sterling already has.

Nearly a century later, the building is still here. Maybe its story isn't finished yet.

What would YOU like to see happen with the upper floors of Sterling’s historic Post Office?