Celebrating Colorado 150 & America 250: “Traqueros: Mexican Trackworkers and the American Railroad.”
This compelling exhibit highlighted the vital, yet often untold, stories of Mexican and Mexican American laborers who built and maintained America’s railroads from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. Through photographs, artifacts, and personal narratives, this exhibit honored the resilience and skill of these Traqueros—laborers whose work laid the foundation for this nation’s extensive rail infrastructure. It also explores the Bracero Program, a World War II-era labor initiative that brought Mexican workers to the U.S. to address labor shortages in essential industries (including railroads). special thank you to the Anschutz Foundation for awarding a grant that allowed the Museum to provide tablets for enhanced interpretive material on Traqueros. These enhanced features included a deeper look into the art featured in the exhibit, as well as oral histories from traqueros and their families provided by the Kansas City Public Library. These resources are linked Here.
