The Lafayette Arts & Cultural Resources Department (ACRD) has been bestowed with the Caroline Bancroft Award from History Colorado for its Racism and Discrimination at the Lafayette Swimming Pool – 1934 exhibit which chronicles the story of Rose Lueras who challenged the City’s white-only restriction on the local swimming pool in 1934. This annual award highlights outstanding projects throughout the state that foster the understanding of Colorado history in exemplary and unique ways. In addition to the honor, ACRD also received $1,000 to help continue its work in this area.
The exhibit project team, which included City staff, historians, librarians, and community members, carefully researched and documented this story in order to weave images, maps, newspaper articles, oral histories, and photographs into a narrative that would touch the hearts and minds of many people. Lafayette’s Human Rights Commission made a recommendation, accepted and acted upon by the Lafayette City Council, to acknowledge this piece of Lafayette history and to name the pool at the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center in recognition of Rose Lueras.
To learn more about the Rose Lueras story, visit lafayetteco.gov/RoseLueras.
View the History Colorado award announcement.