500 puzzle libraries now operate across the United States and eight countries
Jessica and Luke Cheney, who started the trend with a doll-sized box in Los Angeles in 2020, have opened a new location in Denver.
By Mateo Thompson ·
A small, Colorado-themed box at 3926 Yates St. in the Tennyson-Berkeley neighborhood has become the newest hub for a growing network of community puzzle libraries. Jessica and Luke Cheney, who opened The Colorado Connection earlier this month, are the couple behind the original concept that started in Los Angeles in 2020. The network has expanded rapidly, with the Cheneys noting that their online map now lists over 500 locations in all 50 U.S. states and eight countries.
The idea originated from a simple walk in Culver City in 2019. Luke Cheney recalls seeing little free book libraries and wondering why a similar system did not exist for jigsaw puzzles. The couple decided on the spot to create one, naming it the Puzzle Palace. They built the first structure using a thrifted Barbie hotel on the lawn of Jessica Cheney's parents in suburban Los Angeles.
The library opened in January 2020, just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of Americans to stay home. Luke Cheney says the project "blew up in the neighborhood" during that time. The Cheneys left a journal inside the box for neighbors to use as a guest book. Residents used the journal to write thank-you notes, review specific puzzles, and recommend pieces to one another, creating a digital-free channel of communication during a period of isolation.
The success of the first library led the couple to open four more locations in the Los Angeles area. They also formed a company called The Puzzle Republic to help others start their own libraries. The company sells setup kits online and offers maintenance advice, such as using rubber bands to keep boxes secure. The Cheneys estimate that 80 to 90 percent of the 500 libraries on their map were directly inspired by their original project.
The Cheneys moved to Denver earlier this year, seeking a city with strong community ties. Luke Cheney says they spent months searching for a neighborhood where people were active and cared about their neighbors. He notes that the Tennyson-Berkeley area has "welcomed us with open arms." The new library is one of a dozen puzzle libraries now operating in the Denver metro area.
Jessica Cheney, an illustrator, describes the appeal of the hobby as a reaction to the digital era. She calls it a "revolt against the digital era" and a way to do something tangible. "Wanting to do something tangible, wanting to disconnect and unplug and put your devices away and actually just get back to being present and in the moment," she says. Luke Cheney adds that some residents report meeting more neighbors in a month with the library than they did in ten years of living in the area.
The Cheneys met in Los Angeles at a bar and moved to Denver earlier in 2026. Luke works as a freelance filmmaker, while Jessica works as an illustrator. The couple initially had only a passing interest in puzzles, with Jessica using them for stress relief before the concept took shape. The new library at 3926 Yates St. continues the model of free access and community engagement that defined their first project in 2020.
