In August 2025, media outlets reported that the Colburn Park Historic District had been expanded. But what is the Colburn Park Historic District? What does it mean to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places? This walking tour, led by Lebanon City Historian Nicole Ford Burley, will introduce attendees to the historic district, focusing on some of the district’s most notable structures, including the First Congregational Church, the Soldiers Memorial Building, the pedestrian mall, and, of course, Colburn Park itself. Attendees will enjoy a walk through Lebanon’s past while gaining an appreciation for modern preservation strategies and challenges.

This event is free and open to the public.

Nicole Ford Burley is Lebanon’s City Historian and Curator of the Lebanon Historical Society. Trained in history and art history, Nicole has spent recent years researching and sharing topics from Lebanon’s history. She has lectured on a variety of topics, including the 1964 fire, notable Lebanon women, and a history of Lebanon’s roads. Nicole has written articles about Lebanon’s history for The Lebanon Times, and her book Lebanon (Images of America series) was published in 2023. When not celebrating and promoting local history, Nicole works in research administration, serves in local government, and makes great use of the local rail trails.