The CSPM staff unveiled Una Familia Grande : The Conejos Neighborhood Project on February 22nd. Over two years in the making, this important exhibit uses artifacts, photographs and stories to put this once vibrant neighborhood back on the map.

During the 1930s -1950s, the Conejos Neighborhood was made up of a few dozen tight-knit families who described themselves as Una Familia Grande – One Big Family. Through a community-based story-telling approach, neighbors share their own memories, allowing visitors to gain extraordinary insight into the Conejos Neighborhood’s unique community identity, history and culture.

For over a century, the Conejos Neighborhood was home to generations of working class families. Platted in the 1880s as the “Monument Addition,” the four block long neighborhood was located south of Colorado Avenue, north of the Martin Drake Power Plant, east of Monument Creek, and west of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad tracks.

Long ignored, the area eventually suffered from blight, neglect and indifference and was torn down and replaced with America the Beautiful Park. Today, the only building left remaining is the historic Spanish Gospel Mission, now known as Chadbourn Community Church. However, as one former resident shared, “Although the neighborhood no longer exists, the spirit and memories of Conejos live within us.” This exhibit is dedicated to everyone who called Conejos home.