Remembering Pueblo: A Journey of Healing, Memory, and Connection
By Helen Eberhardie Dunn
In the heart of Pueblo, Colorado, a city shaped by resilience and cultural convergence, a new interfaith memorial is emerging—one designed not just to honor the past but to offer a space for healing, reflection, and ancestral connection. Remembering is more than a monument; it is an experience, an ongoing conversation with history, and an invitation to engage with the unseen threads that bind us to those who came before.
This is the story of how Remembering came to be, and how it continues to evolve as a deeply personal and community-driven initiative.
The Inspiration: Uncovering Forgotten Histories
The origins of Remembering can be traced to a walk through Roselawn Cemetery, where a small group of us stood before the unmarked mass graves of Pueblo’s unknown dead. The weight of those lost souls—victims of the 1921 Great Flood, the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, and the 1904 Eden Train Wreck—settled over us. Their stories had been largely erased, their names lost to time.
This discovery was more than a historical footnote; it was a revelation about how grief, when unacknowledged, continues to ripple through generations. Indigenous peoples, migrant workers, and laborers who shaped Pueblo’s early industries were among those who perished without ceremony or remembrance. Their absence from historical memory is a wound, one that Remembering seeks to heal.
From Concept to Creation: The Evolution of Remembering
The idea for an interactive memorial took shape through conversations with artists, historians, Indigenous leaders, and community members. At its core, Remembering is about connection—to the land, to history, and to the people who built this city yet remain unrecognized.
The memorial’s physical form is deeply symbolic. At its center is the Sky Bed, a monumental block of Colorado Yule Marble where visitors can lie down and gaze at the sky—an act of surrender, of presence, of remembering. Steel monoliths representing the four directions rise around it, casting shadows that shift with time, reminding us of life’s impermanence. The elements—earth, air, fire, water, and space—are embedded in the memorial’s design, reflecting Pueblo’s natural environment and the deep spiritual traditions of its Indigenous communities.
Cliff swallows, known for their annual migrations through Pueblo, also hold a special place in Remembering. These birds symbolize renewal, carrying messages between the past and present. Their presence is honored in the proposed “Say Their Names, Fly with the Swallows” festival, where participants will fold paper swallows in remembrance of ancestors, creating a collective act of acknowledgment.
A Site of Remembrance: The Historic Pueblo Riverwalk
The chosen location for Remembering is no coincidence. The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk (HARP), a place shaped by water’s dual nature—both life-giving and destructive—serves as an ideal setting for a project that contemplates loss and resilience. The 1921 flood forever altered Pueblo, not only in its physical landscape but in the lives of those who were lost. The memorial’s presence on the Riverwalk transforms a site of past tragedy into a place of renewal and collective healing.
Community-Driven Healing
At its heart, Remembering is a community effort, shaped by local partnerships and collective storytelling. The project’s founding team—myself, Jimmie Dunn, Gregory Howell, Bonifacio Cosyleon, and Red Dove Bernal—has been working alongside historians, artists, spiritual leaders, and local institutions to bring this vision to life.
Workshops, educational programs, and guided experiences will accompany the physical installation, ensuring that Remembering remains a living, evolving space. Informational signage and oral histories will provide a deeper understanding of the tragedies it honors, bridging generational gaps and creating new pathways for dialogue.
Funding and Future Development
Bringing Remembering to life requires not only creative vision but also financial support. We have secured initial funding from the Hillsdale Fund and are actively pursuing additional grants, including a request for $33,000 to document the project’s journey through film and digital storytelling.
As we move forward, Remembering will continue to develop in two phases:
2025-2026: Research, fundraising, and community engagement efforts
2026-2027: Fabrication, installation, and inauguration
We are also collaborating with local businesses and institutions, such as Evraz Steel Mill, which has pledged material donations, and SOAR, a collective of Indigenous healers and storytellers who will guide the memorial’s cultural framework.
Why Remembering Matters
In a city known for its industrial strength, its cultural complexity, and its untold histories, Remembering is a call to honor those who came before us. It is a sacred space where loss is acknowledged, memory is preserved, and healing is made possible—not just for those directly connected to the events it commemorates but for all who carry ancestral grief, known or unknown.
As Pueblo continues to evolve, Remembering will stand as a testament to its past while offering a path toward a more connected, compassionate future.
We invite you to be part of this journey. Join us in the coming months as we share updates, host discussions, and build Remembering together. This is not just a memorial—it is a movement, a living reflection of our shared histories and our collective hope.
#Stay connected with us here on our website for upcoming events, ways to participate, and stories of remembrance.
