My parents found a copy of the Declaration of Independence in my house in 1996 & it was authenticated and dated by a local college as pre civil war. They have help onto it for a long time but haven't done anything to protect it other than wrap the box the stored it in, in cellophane.
It isn't pretty but it is all in one piece. Who can I contact in or near Grand Junction, CO to find out for sure that it is authentic get a better date on it & find out what my next options are?
Contact the Colorado Historical Society. Most societies are also archives and preservation labs, speaking as an employee of Indiana's.