PRESS CONTACTS

History Colorado: Jeannie McFarland Johnson, hc_media@state.co.us

CAPU: Jasmine Chu, jasmine@coloradoasianpacificunited.org

In the early 1980s, a community of Southeast and East Asian refugees and immigrants, who fled their war-torn homelands in search of better opportunities, transformed a section of Denver into a hub of culture, commerce, and belonging. The Little Saigon Business District became a place where traditions thrived, families gathered, and new opportunities took root. Festivals, fashion, markets, music, and nightlife kept the district buzzing with energy, making it both a home for the community and a destination for all. Big Dreams in Denver's Little Saigon celebrates the beauty and strength of this community.

“Little Saigon is the beating heart of our community. Like the lotus that emerges from mud, we have risen resolute regardless of the circumstances. It is a testament of our people’s resilience, that despite being displaced from our homelands thousands of miles away, we can still blossom,” said Joie Ha, executive director of Colorado Asian Pacific United. “We hope this exhibition pays tribute to the neighborhood that nurtured us, and spurs a renewed fervor for its preservation and legacy.”  

The exhibition brings the district’s story to life in a multi-format experience from original artwork to historic photographs and community-donated objects. Highlights include:

• Original artwork by three local Asian American artists, inspired by the oral histories and developed specifically for this presentation. 
• A special preview trailer of the documentary “There’s a Lane for Us,” by filmmaker Hanna Tran, dives into the area’s historical significance and the next generation’s efforts to carry forward its legacy. 
• An interactive pop culture display showcases evolving hairstyles that reflect shifting fashion trends. 
• Traditional clothing represents the artistry and heritage of Southeast and East Asian communities.
• A sensory experience of food and fragrance, featuring the distinct aromas that define Little Saigon’s culinary culture.  
• The opportunity to hear first-hand narratives from over three dozen oral histories. 
• A glance at the hopes and dreams for the future of the Little Saigon district.  

"I am incredibly honored to have worked alongside CAPU and the Little Saigon community. This project has been a heartfelt collaboration to preserve their histories as an integral part of American history," said Yadira Solis, director, Museum of Memory at History Colorado. "Big Dreams in Little Saigon reflects the resilience of refugee families who built new lives and opportunities here. I am proud of what we achieved together and grateful to help honor the families, businesses, and lifelong legacies that make the Little Saigon district so extraordinary." 

The History Colorado Museum of Memory Initiative is a public history project aimed at collaborating with Colorado residents to co-author their shared history. These projects highlight and elevate narratives that have traditionally been overlooked. 

Beginning in 2024, the ongoing Little Saigon Memory Project seeks to ensure that the voices and experiences of Denver's Asian American communities are honored and preserved for future generations. This initiative prominently features the perspectives of these communities through 38 oral histories collected by local community partners. Big Dreams in Denver's Little Saigon will be open on the 4th floor mezzanine from October 21, 2025, through October 2026, and is included with general admission to the History Colorado Center.

About Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU):
Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU) strives to unearth, preserve, and celebrate local Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) histories through education, celebration, and collaboration. Our work includes multi-modal ways of remembering and story sharing including: exhibitions, oral histories, art, place-making, documentaries, and more.

In the future, CAPU hopes to start the first AANHPI culture & history museum in the Rocky Mountain Region, and reactivate the alleyway that used to be Denver’s Chinatown. 

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served more than 75,000 students and 500,000 people in Colorado each year. It is a 145-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation which provides technical assistance, educational opportunities, and other access to archaeology and historic preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is one of the nation’s largest state funded preservation programs of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas of the state. Additionally, the offices of the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Officer are part of History Colorado.

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving and sharing the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through educational programs, historic preservation grants, collecting, outreach to Colorado communities, the History Colorado Center and Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver, and 10 other museums and historic attractions statewide. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado