Posted on September 10, 2026

 

The rich culture, heritage, and stories of southern Colorado’s communities come to life at History Colorado’s El Pueblo History Museum throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

 

El Pueblo History Museum sits on the banks of the Arkansas River that once marked the US-Mexico border. The museum takes its name and its location from the original 1842 El Pueblo Trading Post – the first permanent settlement in what is now Pueblo, Colorado. The trading post facilitated fur trade along the Santa Fe Trail, but was abandoned and eventually demolished as the settlement of Pueblo grew up around its ruins. Its location was lost beneath the rapidly-growing city, until local archaeologist William “Bill” Buckles set out to rediscover it in the 1980s. Archaeological excavations found signs of the El Pueblo structure and hundreds of artifacts like trade goods and rifle balls. The excavation sparked a revival of downtown Pueblo.

 

El Pueblo History Museum, which originally opened in 1959, relocated to this historic location in 2003 with a new museum complex, a reconstruction of the trading post, and the William G. Buckles Archaeology Pavilion where the excavation site remains open to this day.

 

El Pueblo History Museum explores the rich Hispano, Chicano/a/x, and Latino/a/x heritage of southern Colorado, and the shifting geopolitical boundaries that shaped this region where many cultures and ethnicities met and melded. Through exhibitions like Borderlands of Southern Colorado, Steel City: 1980-2004, and El Movimiento at Pueblo Community College visitors are immersed in the stories and artifacts of the peoples who have forged the uniqueness of Pueblo.

 

El Pueblo engages the community with exhibitions, events, and experiences year round – with fascinating, family-friendly festivities and learning opportunities ramped up during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15 each year.

 

“Pueblo’s community is largely Latino and the cultural traditions around Hispanic Heritage Month and Day of the Dead are important moments for honoring our Indigenous and Hispano ancestors,” said Dianne Archuleta, Director of El Pueblo History Museum. “El Pueblo History Museum is committed to making connections so that people of all walks of life can come together under one common thread.”

 

New Hispanic Heritage Exhibitions

 

Stories of Courage, Legacies of Pride | Opening September 15 through September 29
Pueblo’s Latino veterans have long served the United States with honor and integrity across every branch of the military. For the past decade, the Pueblo Latino Veterans Legacies of Courage Committee has been honoring these veterans for their courageous service to our country, dedication to community, commitment to their families, and continued support of fellow veterans. Since 2015, the Legacies of Courage Award has recognized 58 veterans, and will induct another five honorees this year. A new photographic exhibition – created in collaboration between the committee, History Colorado’s El Pueblo History Museum, and the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center – will feature past honorees to mark Hispanic Heritage Month. The exhibit opens at El Pueblo History Museum at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, September 15, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in partnership with the Latino Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. The exhibit will remain on display at El Pueblo History Museum through September 29, including during the 2026 Chile and Frijoles Festival. It will then move to the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, where it will continue through the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month on October 15. During the exhibition’s run at El Pueblo, admission to the museum will be free for Veterans.

 

Days of the Dead: Aztec Adventures of Cholo, Vato and Pano | Opening October 8

Aztec heritage, ancestral memory, and community love are vividly captured through the art of Tony Ortega, a Denver-based Chicano artist, printmaker, painter, and educator whose career spans more than four decades. The Days of the Dead exhibition features the original pastel artwork he created for the children’s book “Days of the Dead: Aztec Adventures of Cholo, Vato, and Pano,” written by George Rivera, Ph.D. which tells the story of Pano’s love of the cultural tradition of his community’s Dia de los Muertos celebration. The exhibition will open with an artist talk and celebration on October 8 from 5 to 7 pm at El Pueblo History Museum. Alongside this exhibition, Ortega will also teach a pastel painting workshop on October 24 from 11am to 2pm where community members can learn art techniques.

 

Avondale: Fields of Devotion | Open Now

From fertile farm fields to boisterous baseball fields and foreign battlefields, the people of south-central Colorado’s small town of Avondale step up to the plate in many ways. Avondale: Fields of Devotion draws on stories shared with El Pueblo History Museum by the town’s residents through History Colorado’s Avondale Museum of Memory project. Through an intriguing array of historic photographs and artifacts, alongside the stories and voices of community members themselves, this exhibition honors the deep love shared by this community.

 

Hispanic Heritage Festivities

Pueblo Chile y Frijoles Festival 

September 18 – 20

El Pueblo History Museum and along Union Avenue

Pueblo’s annual Chile and Frijoles Festival celebrates the community’s rich agriculture and encourages locals and visitors alike to taste and buy fresh products at numerous farm stands and specialty shops available during the festival and year-round. The festival features live entertainment, street vendors, cooking competitions, and lots of chiles!

El Pueblo History Museum is located at the heart of historic downtown Pueblo along Union Avenue where the festival is held. This year, the museum is once again hosting spectacular entertainment and heritage activities, fresh chiles being roasted by vendors in front of our museum, as well as free admission to the museum between 10am and 4pm each day with paid entry into the festival.

 

Fuego y Tradición: Festival Folklórico de Pueblo 

September 17, 6:30 pm

Pueblo Memorial Hall

Experience an unforgettable evening of music, color, and culture at Fuego y Tradición: Folklórico Festival de Pueblo! This night of dance kicks off the 2026 Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival with vibrant costumes, incredible choreography, and rich cultural traditions. Celebrate the beauty of Mexican folklórico dance as the internationally acclaimed Zitlalkiahuitl from Guerrero, Mexico takes the stage for a spectacular performance, alongside guest groups Mariachi Lobos and Omawari Folklórico Dance Academy. This is a fundraiser for the El Pueblo History Museum and will be held at the beautiful and historic Pueblo Memorial Hall. Buy tickets in advance for $39.

 

El Fandango!

September 19, 11 am – 4 pm

El Pueblo History Museum

El Fandango! brings folklórico dance performances, cultural demonstrations, and more to El Pueblo History Museum. Explore the museum for free, tour the 1842 replica Trading Post and experience demonstrations of life in 1842, while dancers perform traditional theatrical dance styles that represent the regional cultures, history, and folklore of the mix of Spanish, Mexican, and Indigenous roots. Performing groups for the Fandango are traveling in from Colorado, Texas, and California, including Ballet Folklorica Patria Mexicana, Fiesta CO Ballet Folklorico, Ballet Folklorico de Barajas, Ballet Folklorico de Houston, and Tecnica Arte y Folklore.

 

¡Viva Mariachi! 

September 20, 1 – 4 pm
El Pueblo History Museum

Vibrant cultural heritage, expressive vocals, and passionate melodies – this afternoon of free live music shares the essence of traditional Mexican folk music! Explore the museum for free, tour the 1842 replica Trading Post and experience demonstrations of life in 1842, all while mariachi groups perform on our outdoor stage. Mariachi Águila, Mariachi Lobos, and Grupo Xochitl are bringing the energy and fun of the mariachi tradition all afternoon long!

 

Salsa & Sangria Class

October 10, 10 am – 12 pm
El Pueblo History Museum

Learn how to make delicious sangria and three styles of salsa – then head home with a six-ounce jar of salsa! Space is limited for this 21+ experience, registration will be available soon.

 

Día de los Muertos

November 1, 1 – 5 pm
El Pueblo History Museum

El Pueblo History Museum invites community members to honor their loved ones by bringing photographs, letters, or mementos to add to a communal altar. The museum’s ofrenda will open in early October. On the Day of the Dead, November 1, the museum is hosting dance performances, sugar skull decorating, kid-friendly activities, and a food truck.

History Colorado’s El Pueblo History Museum is located at 301 N. Union Avenue in the heart of the city of Pueblo, part of the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk District and the Pueblo Creative Corridor. The museum stands on the site of the original El Pueblo trading post, constructed in 1842. The museum site features beautiful galleries, a gift shop, bookstore, gardens, an active archaeological dig, and a recreation of the 1842 adobe trading post.

El Pueblo History Museum is open daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.ElPuebloHistoryMuseum.org or call 719-583-0453. Also, Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado