Denver: The 500th Free Puzzle Library Opens

Jessica and Luke Cheney opened The Colorado Connection, the 500th free puzzle library in the United States, at 3926 Yates St. in Denver’s Tennyson-Berkeley neighborhood earlier this month. The small, Colorado-themed structure serves as the newest addition to a network that now spans all 50 states and eight countries.

The Cheneys, who moved to Denver earlier this year, originated the concept in 2019 after spotting Little Free Libraries in their Culver City, California, neighborhood. They decided to create a similar resource for jigsaw puzzles. Their first project, the Puzzle Palace, opened in January 2020 using a thrifted Barbie hotel placed on the lawn of Jessica’s parents in La Crescenta.

The timing of the first library’s launch coincided with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States two months later. The location became a hub for local interaction, with residents using an internal guest book to exchange notes and puzzle recommendations. Luke Cheney noted that neighbors used the journal to connect during isolation, leaving reviews that matched specific puzzles to individual preferences.

Following the success of the initial location, the couple expanded their efforts in the Los Angeles area. They opened four additional puzzle libraries over the next few years and formally established The Puzzle Republic. The company sells setup kits and provides maintenance resources to individuals who want to start their own libraries, a role the Cheneys term being a 'piecekeeper.'

The Puzzle Republic maintains an online map of these locations. As of October 2026, the map lists more than 500 libraries. The Cheneys estimate that 80 to 90 percent of these locations were directly inspired by their initial work. They observe that these libraries often accelerate neighborhood bonding. One resident told them they met more neighbors in the month following a library's installation than they had in the previous decade of living in the area.

The couple selected Denver for their move after searching for a community with strong local engagement. They described the city as ideal for the puzzle library model. The Tennyson-Berkeley neighborhood has welcomed the new installation, which joins twelve other puzzle libraries in the Denver metro area. Jessica Cheney, an illustrator, and Luke Cheney, a freelance filmmaker, met in Los Angeles and share an interest in the tactile nature of puzzles.

Cheney described the appeal of jigsaw puzzles as a response to digital saturation. She said, 'I think it’s kind of this need for nostalgia and a revolt against the digital era.. wanting to disconnect and unplug and put your devices away and actually just get back to being present and in the moment.' The new library in Denver continues this practice, offering residents a tangible activity to share in their neighborhood.