By: Juana Bordas
Get ready to celebrate! In 2026 Colorado will be 150 years old! The Colorado Commission 150 is coordinating this celebration and approved establishing a Museum that will finally tell the story of Latino contributions to Colorado. The Hispanic community settled Colorado centuries ago, and yet our history is often forgotten or excluded.
The time to act is NOW so that a Hispanic Heritage Museum can be a reality by 2026. This will be the biggest venture launched by Latinos in Colorado and your participation and support are the key. The Museum will be the center of Latino unity, pride, and heritage!
A nonprofit, The Hispanic/Latino Heritage Fund was initiated by renowned leaders, Hon. Polly Baca, Patricia Barela Rivera, and Hon. Ramona Martinez to tap into the 2026 Celebration funding and to raise money to build the Hispanic Heritage Museum. Community meetings are being held across the state and our goal (WOW!) is to raise 20 Million. And we can do it! It’s time for Latinos to unify, think Big, and multiple their influence and impact!
The Hispanic/Latino Heritage Fund was approached by the Auraria Higher Education Center and offered an opportunity to house the Museum as part of the expansive development on the Auraria Parkway. This location is being recommended by the Hispanic/Latino Heritage Fund. The following are multiple benefits of the Auraria site:
Location, location, location and one that serves the younger generations
The site is across from the Ball Arena exposing the beautiful Hispanic Heritage Museum to thousands of people attending events. This is the prime and visible location where Denver is expanding. Property values will soar, giving Colorado Latinos a valuable asse and a great community investment.
And because it is located at the Auraria higher education complex it will serve the next generations. There 11,000 Latinos students on the Auraria campus who will learn about our history and culture. The Classroom to Career Hub will be housed in this complex and serve 22,000 students a year. Educational program would also attract additional students.
Financially an unbeatable deal! It’s a 50 percent off sale!
The Heritage Museum will be built on public land which saves an estimated $300,000 in property taxes yearly. Additionally, the architect, development, and design costs have been completed as part of the new Auraria development. This site will be 50 percent lower costs than if a standalone site is developed and land purchased
Additionally, national and state special discretionary funds are available for the 2026 celebration. The Heritage fund is requesting 9 Million of these dollars. Additionally, over 3 Million private money is already committed. The halfway mark has been hit!!!!
Bringing Latino Heritage to all of Denver
The design includes a plaza and mercado showcasing Latino small businesses, art, cuisine, and culture. Everyone in Denver is invited to benefit and participate. Plus, the Museum would serve as a hub or Latino campus connecting Santa Fe Drive, Museo de las Americas, Su Teatro, the Mexican Cultural Center, the 5280 trail, Gonzalez Library, and the Auraria peace walk. This is where the Denver Hispanic community started. Latinos would be reclaiming our history on our original homesite in a highly visible way.
Join us and get Involvement The name, programs, exhibit, inside space, mission, board will be decided by Latino community committees. Currently there are fundraising, events, outreach, board development, and programs committees. Outreach is being done across Colorado continues – contact us to set up a community meeting or serve on a committee.
This is just the beginning: This Hispanic Heritage Museum will connect and anchor the 7 Latino museums across the state. And if in the future “the community” decides to build something else, like satellites across Colorado, Latinos will simply have a $25-30M asset, and much curated historical and cultural information to bring forward.
As with all decisions there are pro’s and con’s. Because of available funding for the 150 celebration, the many benefits and savings with the new Auraria complex, the strong connection to younger generations, and the lucrative and visible site, let’s take this bold step to ensure Hispanic Heritage is preserved and elevated.
I am personally in support of this site because back in 1980 as director of Mi Casa Resource Center, we purchased our first site on Galapagos Street for $58,000. Forty-five years and leveraging two larger properties, Mi Casa now has the largest nonprofit Hispanic owned site in Colorado – our community’s largest asset. As my immigrant mother, Maria, taught me – invest in property. We should not pass up this opportunity for our community to build our collective wealth and to pass on a legacy to the next generations.
Y Mas importante – The time is Ahora! The Museum would open August 2026 and be highlighted as part of the Colorado Commission 150 celebration. Let’s build on this momentum. Si se Puede!
The Hispanic Heritage Museum – a legacy from our past to our future! We can create one of the BEST Hispanic/Latino Museums in the country!
Juana Bordas is the author of The Power of Latino Leadership – Ahora! A founder of Mi Casa Resource Center, and an inductee of The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame
For more information, to show your support, or to get involved contact: patricia@chlhf.org, ramona@chlhf.org. Send your donation to be an inaugural Hispanic Heritage Museum Member to: CHLHF400 East 3rd Ave Unit 9 Denver, Co. 80203
