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Welcome to the online exhibit of Resilience and Regrowth: Twenty Years After Cerro Grande. Explore photographs and artifacts, reflect on our journey of resilience, and share your stories of the Cerro Grande Fire.
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“[Working with the Volunteer Task Force] was the first educational experience that combined my personal life, my academic life, and the life of the community. … It was empowering for a sixth-grade student.” What has helped you to feel more hopeful about the future?  Signed by Steve Coburn, Fire Marshall and Assistant Fire Chief, this helmet is one of many given out to children by the Los Alamos Fire Department after Cerro Grande. LAHS Archives, 2000.0001. Los Alamos Historical Society. Crises like the Cerro Grande Fire can affect children in different ways than adults. The community created programs to support them, and listened to what young people had to say. Youngsters across New Mexico donated money and toys—one student even gave his entire collection of Pokémon cards—and teens gave prom dresses. Los Alamos teens went to prom and graduation, determined to be the class of 2000 and not the class of the fire. Mountain Elementary School was undamaged by the fire, but nearly one in five students had lost their homes in the fire. Their teachers worked with the Volunteer Task Force to make nature study a central part of schoolwork. Studying the forest’s regrowth gave children ways to help and to heal. Teens from across the region worked to rebuild trails in the Family YMCA’s Youth Conservation Corps. There are scientists and community leaders today who say these hours volunteering in the mountains set them on their paths in life. Comments are closed.
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Header photo by Vint Miller, courtesy Los Alamos County.
Were you here for the Cerro Grande Fire? Click here to share your story with us and to read stories of resilience from friends and neighbors.
Join us in the Guest Cottage to see Resilience and Regrowth in person. The museum exhibit has the space to share even more photographs, artifacts, and personal stories.
Thank You!
Hero Sponsors
Thank you for your donations that made this exhibit possible!
Melissa Arias
Nancy and John Bartlit Stephen A. Becker Don Cavness Rose Chocolatier Rebecca Collinsworth Brent and Robyn Collom Beverly Cooper Hedy Dunn Terry Foxx John S. Hendricks Hans and Ryn Hermann Linda and Bob Hill Wendy Hoffman Mary Pat Kraemer Lemonade Living Judy Magelssen Craig Martin Elizabeth Martineau McDaniel Family Gordon McDonough Robert C. Moore Ben and Ruth Neal Joyce Nickols Todd Nickols Deborah and Rick Reiss John and Kit Ruminer Santa Fe New Mexican Sharon Snyder Georgia and Gerry Strickfaden Michelle Stump Cherie and Andy Trottier Todd Urbatsch Roger Waterman and Emily McGay In creating this online exhibit, the Los Alamos Historical Society is supported by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the New Mexico Humanities Council.
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