Except for those who have studied Denver history, not many others may know that the present Auraria college campus and its surroundings were the site of a city, founded the same year as Denver.

Located between the Platte River and Cherry Creek, the campus was originally inhabited by Arapahoe and Cheyenne tribes. In 1858, gold was discovered in the area and American pioneers rushed out to seek their fortunes. Two settlements quickly grew up, Auraria City named after the Latin word for gold and Denver City on the other side of Cherry Creek. In 1860, Auraria was incorporated into Denver and became a distinct neighborhood with a rich mixture of ethnic groups, which grew to include a dominant Hispanic community after World War II.

To honor and memorialize this community that flourished for 100 years, cousins, Trini and Gregario, descendants of the Gonzalez family whose house is preserved on the campus, founded Auraria Casa Mayan Heritage (ACMH) in May 2007.

Auraria was a “multicultural place with British, German, Swedes, Irish, and later—the Eastern Europeans, Czechs and Polish moved in,” says Gregario. “Today, the Tivoli Brewery, Emmanuel Temple, Saint Elizabeth, and Saint Cajetan churches remain as historic landmarks.” 

Two houses located at the Ninth Street Historic Park on the Auraria Higher Education Center also remain as historic landmarks: The Golda Meir House is recognized as the only known U.S. residence of the international stateswoman, who was the first female Prime Minister of Israel. The Casa Mayan house is the former Gonzalez home and restaurant – one of the city’s first Mexican eateries.

“We are inspired to bridge our diverse community with tours, educational and outreach programs and culinary events,” Gregario says. “The importance of maintaining the legacy of the old Casa Mayan restaurant was housed in a historic building.”

With both Trini and Gregario speaking one after the other, concurring with and affirming the other’s views, they explain, “In the year of 1934, after a decade of living in various housing in Auraria, Ramon and Carolina Gonzalez purchased a home at 1020 9th St., the oldest clapboard house built in 1872 by Dr. William Smedley.”

Speaking in the midst of recollections by her cousin Gregario and his mother Marta, Trini adds, “The Gonzalez family of 1020 9th St. shared many skills and interests in the arts, but it was their generosity and love of people that made this home a refuge and gathering place for many. By 1946, the family home ‘evolved’ into the Casa Mayan restaurant, renowned for its hospitality, music and authentic Mexican cuisine it introduced to the Anglo and international communities.”

Trini continues, “The Casa Mayan also served as a cultural center where many clubs originated. Besides being ‘the place’ for prominent Denverites, the restaurant was a hub for many well-known national and international artists, musicians, writers, athletes, politicians, and architects. The Urban Renewal Authority of Denver closed the Casa Mayan in 1974. Most importantly, the Casa Mayan was able to bridge social, cultural and economic barriers at a time when divisions among many groups were common.” 

Marta, 84, a mother of two, is one of the seven children of Carolina and Ramon Gonzalez. Marta was one of the first female television programmers in 1947, with then KOA radio and television stations. She was a hostess for a TV program called “Opportunity Time.”

According to her, “At that time there weren’t many women and especially, there weren’t many jobs for the Hispanic people, and the goal of the program was to help them realize their personal goals.”

Born in El Paso, Texas, Marta says, “My parents came from Chihuahua, Mexico. They started the Casa Mayan restaurant as a small restaurant and were able to build and make it into a place where people wanted to be. Then there were a flood of people suffering from the economic depression, and the Casa Mayan restaurant was the place to eat. My parents helped a lot of people affected by the Great Depression. My mom taught many women how to sew clothes. They had a government contract to teach people how to sew.”

Gregario is a native of Denver, an architect, urban planner, artist and educator. Trini, who grew up in Denver, is a freelance writer, poet, researcher, lecturer and genealogist. Both pride themselves as “historic activists.”

They have lined up several events and activities this year to fulfill some of their joint dreams for the Auraria Casa Mayan Heritage organization and “to bring the attention of the Coloradoans, the nation and the world communities to share the history of the Auraria community and the Casa Mayan,” shares Gregario.

ACMH offers public and private tours, customized for clubs, organizations or schools. The two note, “The tours provide the early and late history of Auraria and the Casa Mayan restaurant. Tours include the Ninth Street Historic Park, the oldest restored Victorian homes in Denver, built from 1872-1906.”

“The ACMH has plans to create diverse workshops covering: Native American History, Cultural Migration, River and Prairie Ecology, Architecture, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Ethnic Diversity, Works Progress and Administration (WPA), and Hospitality,” says Trini. “The organization gathers valuable information pertaining to the history of Auraria and Casa Mayan. Our priority is to document the stories, and photographs, through oral interviews and video documentaries.”

On Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26, ACMH plans to present “CELEBRATE 1908” – a kick-off event for this year’s Democratic National Convention in Denver. It plans to celebrate what they call, “…this extraordinary year that changed America … Celebrate its spirit of Progressive Reform, Technology, Activism, and Hope!”

The goal is to recreate the 1908 event on the 100th anniversary of the historic National Democratic Convention, which also took place in Colorado. To memorialize the historic convention, the organizers hope attendees of this summer’s event will “…wear period dress, debate the issues, attend lectures, and listen to performance poetry.”

Editor’s note: For more information or inquiries about Auraria Casa Mayan Heritage and its programs, contact Gregario at 303-388-5174 or 303-477-9220.

Athanasius U.P. Ohaya has authored two books Clear Across the Bridge (fiction) and From African Plains to American Ways: New Era Poems. Born in Nigeria, Ohaya is a former teacher at Denver’s Montbello and East High Schools, and presently works as an addictions counselor.