John "Thunderbird Man" Emhoolah, Jr. Branch Library
🏢 Denver Public Library · Denver, Colorado
John "Thunderbird Man" Emhoolah, Jr. Branch Library
Named in 2021 to honor John 'Thunderbird Man' Emhoolah, Jr. — Kiowa and Arapaho elder, Korean War veteran, and 50-year champion of Native American education — this 1918 Carnegie landmark on Denver's Santa Fe Drive carries a century of community history inside its vaulted, tile-roofed walls.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 675 Santa Fe Dr., Denver, CO 80204
Phone: (720) 865-0160
Website: denverlibrary.org
Plus Code: 85FQP2G2+RC (Denver, CO)
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📖 About John "Thunderbird Man" Emhoolah, Jr. Branch Library
The John 'Thunderbird Man' Emhoolah, Jr. Branch Library sits in Denver's La Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhood along the Santa Fe Arts District corridor. The building opened in June 1918 as one of five Carnegie-funded Denver branches designed by Varian & Varian Architects in a Spanish Eclectic style — brick and stone with a gabled tile roof, arched windows, and a vaulted interior. A Denver Landmark since 1989, the 4,640-square-foot building was renovated in 1992 and modernized under the 2017 Elevate Denver Bond Program (Studiotrope Design Collective, Interlock Construction) to expand community meeting space, improve youth programming areas, and achieve full ADA accessibility. In November 2021, following a two-year community nomination and voting process, Denver Public Library renamed the branch to honor John 'Thunderbird Man' Emhoolah, Jr. (1929–2021), a Kiowa and Arapaho elder, Korean War veteran, and 50-year advocate for Native American education who co-founded the Denver March Powwow and helped pass the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. An interior mural, Pasado, Presente, Futuro by artist Carlota Espinoza, reflects the neighborhood's Latino and Indigenous heritage.
⭐ What makes this library special
- One of Denver's five original 1918 Carnegie branch libraries — a Denver Landmark since 1989, designed by Varian & Varian Architects in Spanish Eclectic style
- Renamed November 13, 2021 for John 'Thunderbird Man' Emhoolah, Jr. (1929–2021), Kiowa/Arapaho elder and Korean War veteran, after a two-year community voting process
- Former name 'Byers Branch' retired: its namesake William N. Byers publicly promoted violence against Native Americans before and celebrated the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre
- Interior mural Pasado, Presente, Futuro by artist Carlota Espinoza reflects the neighborhood's Latino and Indigenous heritage
- Located along Denver's First Friday Art Walk on Santa Fe Drive in the La Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhood, with dedicated parking and outdoor book drop
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Every Denver Public Library card unlocks a full suite of free digital resources — ebooks, audiobooks, streaming films, language courses, and music — available 24/7.
📚 Services
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Copy, print, fax, and scan services
- Reservable community meeting spaces
- Outdoor book drop (24-hour returns)
- Dedicated parking lot and bike parking
- Free Narcan kits (community harm-reduction resource)
- Sensory toolkit and language support services
- ADA-accessible entrance with button-operated doors and accessible parking
🎸 Programs
- Storytime for children and movie screenings
- Community meeting room reservations for local groups and organizations
- Branch events for all ages — see denverlibrary.org/events for current schedule
📍 Other Denver Public Library Branches
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was John 'Thunderbird Man' Emhoolah, Jr., and why was the library renamed for him?
John Emhoolah, Jr. (October 12, 1929 – April 21, 2021) was a member of the Kiowa and Arapaho Tribes and a descendant of survivors of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre — the very atrocity that the library's previous namesake, Rocky Mountain News editor William N. Byers, had publicly promoted. Emhoolah served in the U.S. Army's 45th Thunderbird Division during the Korean War (earning his lifelong nickname), then spent 50 years building Native American education programs, co-founding the Denver March Powwow, and helping pass the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. After a two-year community voting process, Denver Public Library renamed the branch in his honor on November 13, 2021.
Why was the original 'Byers Branch' name retired?
William N. Byers (1831–1903) founded Denver's first newspaper, the Rocky Mountain News, and used that platform to incite violence against Native Americans before the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre — publishing editorials calling for 'active extermination' of Indigenous peoples — and afterward celebrated the massacre, which killed approximately 200 Cheyenne and Arapaho people, as a 'great battle.' Following community advocacy and a formal two-year renaming process, Denver Public Library retired his name from the branch in 2021.
Is this a Carnegie library, and what is the building's history?
Yes. The branch opened in June 1918 as one of five Denver branches built with Carnegie Corporation funding — part of an $80,000 grant accepted by Denver City Council in December 1916. It was designed by Varian & Varian Architects in a Spanish Eclectic style with a gabled tile roof, arched windows, and a vaulted interior. The city designated it a Denver Landmark in 1989. It was renovated in 1992 and again under the 2017 Elevate Denver Bond Program to expand community space and achieve full ADA accessibility.
What are the branch's hours, and is parking available?
The John 'Thunderbird Man' Emhoolah, Jr. Branch is open Monday through Thursday 10am–6pm and Friday 10am–5pm; it is closed Saturday and Sunday. The branch has a dedicated parking lot with accessible spaces and bike parking. An outdoor book drop is available around the clock for after-hours returns.
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