Why was the Memorial built?
The Columbine Memorial was built to honor and remember the innocent victims of the April 20, 1999 shootings at Columbine High School.  Families of the victims, students, faculty, and community members have all expressed a desire for creation of a permanent memorial. The Columbine Memorial Committee was formed shortly after the shootings, and the development of an appropriate design was ongoing since then. Many people within, and outside of, the Columbine community were interested in funding and completing a permanent memorial to make sure that innocent victims who died, were injured, or otherwise endured the Columbine tragedy were not forgotten.
Where is the Memorial located?
The Memorial is located in Clement Park, adjacent to Columbine High School and south of the Columbine Public Library. It is on the west side of the park adjacent to “Rebel Hill” and west of the school. The Memorial is just over an acre in total size, with the central area approximately 27,000-sq. ft. (roughly half the size of a football field).  The general address of the park is 7306 W. Bowles Avenue, Littleton, Colorado.  The Memorial is open all park hours.
Are donations still being accepted?
Yes! Donations will be used for maintenance. Tax deductible contributions may be sent to:
Columbine Memorial Foundation
P.O. Box 621636
Littleton, CO 80162-1636
or made via this website.
Are tributes and memorabilia allowed?

To help preserve the integrity of the overall Columbine Memorial and to help ensure that visitors to the Memorial can respect and experience the Memorial for which it was designed, large items or items deemed inappropriate are discouraged and will be removed at the discretion of the board of directors.  Small tributes are allowed. 

Who takes care of the Memorial now that its completed?
The Columbine Memorial Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, was formed in March 2009 after the Columbine Memorial Committee completed construction of the Memorial and disbanded. The Columbine Memorial Foundation’s purpose is to augment and facilitate maintenance, repairs and improvements to the Columbine Memorial. The Foundation also coordinates volunteer efforts throughout the year to perform trash removal, weeding, plant maintenance and general cleaning of the Memorial.
Is this the "official" Memorial?
Yes, this is the only public memorial.  While there may be other small-scale tributes, this is the only Memorial with the level of planning, professional design, participation and endorsement of victims’ families, and private and public support. The Memorial design is intended to focus on an appropriate remembrance. The selected location provides an open, public space dedicated to the memory of the innocent victims and a place to remember the tremendous impacts on the community.
Who designed the Memorial?
The Columbine Memorial Committee received proposals from many design firms and conducted interviews before selecting DHM Design from Denver, Colorado as the design consultant for the Memorial project. The Committee and design consultants took the results of 3,500 completed surveys, along with comments from Columbine students, faculty and staff, and combined that information with detailed input from victims’ families gathered during 18 months of meetings, to create the conceptual design.  The present design incorporated details specifically requested by the victims’ families.
Who was on the Memorial Committee?
The Committee consisted of Columbine graduates who were students in 1999, past and present faculty, Columbine parents, community and business leaders, first responders, and public officials who volunteered in June of 1999 in response to numerous requests for a permanent memorial. The Committee met regularly in development of the Memorial design beginning in June of 1999 until the Dedication of the Columbine Memorial in September 2007.  A list of the current Columbine Memorial Foundation board members can be found on this website.
How was the design developed?
The Memorial Committee started work in June of 1999.  The early months of meetings focused on developing Committee structure and goals, creating a vision for the Memorial and conducting several public meetings to gather necessary input. This initial design process also established priorities that would govern all design decisions.  Emphasis was placed on the families of those who lost their lives, those who were injured and their families, students, faculty and staff, and finally the Columbine community in general.

The Committee developed and conducted a survey that generated 3,500 responses, then interviewed and hired a design consultant, reviewed Memorial location alternatives and selected a site. There were three initial design concepts prepared in 2001 that were reviewed with the victims’ families. The families asked for changes to those design concepts and also requested more time to consider the Memorial. In response, the Committee slowed its design activity and concentrated its effort on building the relationships with the families.

The Committee and the design consultants started a prolonged series of meetings with victims’ families in October of 2001. The current design is a result of numerous meetings since October 2001 that produced the current plans; plans that include several features requested by the victims’ families. The conceptual plans were approved by the families of the deceased and also the families of the injured in August of 2002. The next several months were spent refining the design, preparing a construction cost estimate, preparing public information and web site materials, and devising a fund raising plan. The final design was unveiled at a press conference in April 2003, and was revised in 2005 to reduce construction costs.

How much did the Memorial cost? Where did construction funds come from?
The total project cost of the Memorial was $2.2 million. This cost included design, utilities, site grading and general construction. Many construction contractors and other businesses donated their time and services as a means to contribute to a worthy and necessary community endeavor.

The cost to maintain, repair and provide improvements for the Columbine Memorial are estimated at $10,000 to $15,000 per year. There is a constant need for concrete repair, weed spraying, plant replacements, native grass mowings, concrete replacement, fountain repairs, and marble tablet cleaning and sealing along with repairs as needed. Donations are currently being accepted for this purpose. 100% of funds received go towards maintenance and improvements at the Memorial.

The Columbine Memorial Foundation is a non profit organization and is registered as a 501(c)(3) corporation with the State of Colorado and the Internal Revenue Service.

When did work start, and when was the Memorial completed?
Groundbreaking for the Columbine Memorial took place on June 16, 2006. Construction began in August of 2006. The Columbine Memorial was dedicated on September 21, 2007.
Who do I contact for further Memorial inquiries or questions?
Written correspondence can be sent to the address noted on this website or via email at info@columbinememorial.org
How can I help?
The Columbine Memorial Foundation is currently seeking contributions and/or donors to create an endowment fund to care for the future maintenance and repair needs for the Columbine Memorial.