Mitchell museum of western art, loudenhenritze archaeology museum, the mining museum, and the trinidad trails or riverwalk. By the late 1860s, the town had about 1,200 residents. Mar 12, 2019 pictures to conjure the world of 191914 in the southern colorado coal fields. I recently read a book by carl breihan called forty years on the wild frontier published in 1985 which in part chronicles the events leading up to the ludlow massacre of april 20th, 1914. In 1917, 121 people died in the hastings mine explosion. The final book on my short list is killing for coal. Over 100 kimberlites have been found in the colorado wyoming state line area. The april 27, 1917 explosion at the hastings mine was the blackest mark. The scene of one of the darkest moments in american labor history has been left essentially untouched since the tragedy.
Denver may have been the commercial capital of northern colorado, but commerce in the southern portion flowed from pueblo to santa fe, new mexico. Hotels near southern colorado coal miners memorial. Trinidad colorado coal mining carnival costumes colorado springs aerial view vintage photography rocky mountains paris skyline the past val hogan trinidad, co 19041904 trinidad, colorado. Part intimate observational documentary and part educational essay, trinidad acquaints viewers with three extraordinary trans women whose paths cross in an unlikely settingthe unassuming small town of trinidad, colorado. Trinidad trolley history trinidad colorado, trinidad, colorado. Some hotels may boast fitness rooms and spa services, while others feature game rooms and wifi access. Trinidad lake is a wonderful place to escape the crowds and establish a basecamp from which to explore the great outdoors plus visit interesting local attractions. Schedules of population, agriculture, manufacturers and mortality for the 1885. Purgatory canyon, colorado treasure legends of america. During a recent food for thought noontime presentation at trinidad state junior college, chamber member yolanda romero reported that, thanks to many generous individuals and organizations, including those who donated the museum building, their vision is nearing realization. The early history of coal mining in co lorado was one of discontent on the part of miners, and periodic confrontations with the mine operators. Historic trail map of the trinidad quadrangle usgs publications. Today, hispanosdescendants of mexicans who lived in what became the us southwest after 1848still account for a portion of the purgatoire valleys population.
Teaching boulder county latino history is an extension of the boulder county latino history project. Coal mining, 19001940 boulder county latino history. The ludlow site, 18 miles northwest of trinidad, colorado, is now a ghost town. The book is as much a history of coal, coal mining, and the reshaping of. In the fifth edition, coauthors carl abbott, stephen j. The work was dangerous, and colorado s death rate in the mines was very high. Lamour came to colorado in 1926 and found a job in mining for awhile. Mining history news, the newsletter of the mining history association. Trinidad colorado geodesic dome ghost towns first world just in case abandoned how to draw hands southern community drop city was an artists community that formed in southern colorado in 1965. Trinidad is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of las. King, kinney, stearns catalytic, trinidad, and zellers.
This is where the some of the earliest and most substantial gold discoveries were made, and why many of the towns were founded in the first place. Hundreds of coal miners march in a funeral procession for ludlow massacre victim louis tikas. Trinidad history museum 2020 all you need to know before. Andrews calls it the deadliest labor struggle in american history. The document was created as a result of a colorado state historical fund grant awarded to colorado state parks for the purpose of preparing a historic context that would assist in evaluation and planning efforts related to railroad abandonments and potential railstotrails conversions. See more ideas about colorado, history, trinidad colorado. Hastings mine explosion in 1917 in just a faint memory in colorados. Adobe buildings in towns such as trinidad and the remnants of plazas or villages attest to early hispano settlement along the purgatoire river in southern colorado. The other is the inactive kelsey lake diamond mine near fort collins, colorado. The ludlow massacre was a massacre perpetrated by antistriker militia during the colorado. A call went out to europe for a trained labor force of miners. Area attractions like the former mining town of trinidad with its colorful history make great side trips.
Coke ovens at cokedale history colorado with images. Colorado artifactual where colorados past is presently. The colorado national guard and colorado fuel and iron company guards attacked a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families in ludlow, colorado, on april 20, 1914, with the national guard using machine guns to fire into the colony. During the years leading up to the ludlow massacre, miners all around the country looking to make a better life for themselves and their families set up picket lines, organized massive parades and rallies, and even took up arms. Colorado mining history in 1849 and 1850, several parties of gold seekers bound for the california gold rush panned small amounts of gold from various streams in the south platte river valley at the foot of the rocky mountains in then western kansas territory, now northeast colorado. This led to an influx of immigrants eager to capitalize on this natural resource. There is little coal mining left in the region, but trinidad remains as one of the bestpreserved victorian mining.
In 1864, coal mining in southern colorado began in the area with the earliest mines located at starkville and engleville near trinidad. The book and gift shop features books about the history of trinidad and nearby communities, the santa fe trail, hispanic culture, and gardening as well as a selection of cookbooks, southwestern literary classics, and childrens books including spanishenglish books. In an instant, the hastings mine, outside trinidad, became a mass grave. The teaching resources are grounded in the books written by cu boulders distinguished professor marjorie mcintosh. Long standing group dedicated to preserving and sharing the unique history and heritage of trinidad colorado and the surrounding region.
While continuing to elucidate the significant impact of mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism on colorado, the. The coal mine explosion was the deadliest disaster in colorado history. Bauer, the senior author of the book about colorado post offices. Introducing trinidads new coal mining museum and park. Southern colorado coal miners memorial, trinidad tripadvisor. The regiment, led by a man by the name of carrasco rodriguez, for some reason, traveled through colorado rather than taking a more direct southerly route. Andrews, a history professor at the university of colorado at boulder. Before long, this led to an influx of immigrants, from a variety of ethnic backgrounds including hispanic, greek, italian, polish, irish, lebanese. Since 1976, newcomers and natives alike have learned about the rich history of the magnificent place they call home from colorado. Hispano settlement in the purgatoire valley colorado.
Trinidad has a lot to offer, stay awhile and enjoy the history of this old mining town where some of the old wild west characters actually hung out. May 22, 2016 may 22, 2016 coke ovens at cokedale history colorado. Trinidad in 1992, the trinidadlas animas county hispanic chamber of commerce embarked on a mission to create a trinidad coal mining museum and coal miners memorial park. Top 10 historic hotels in colorado springs, co full of. Visit the historical museums with famous victorian architecture, enjoy the southern colorado repertory theater, maybe even catch some fish at trinidad lake state park. Located on the santa fe trail, where the rockies fade into the great plains, this onetime mafiarun, coal mining town is the destination of more than 6,500 transsexuals. Providing a balanced treatment of the entire states historyfrom grand junction to lamar and from trinidad to craigthe authors also reveal how denver and its surrounding communities developed and gained influence.
Historical fiction at its finest the durango herald. Railroads played a significant role in the overall development of colorado. View all attractions near trinidad history museum on tripadvisor. The coal from these mines was highly prized for its quality in creating coking fuels for colorado s smelters. The town was shaped by the influence of the spanish, who came from the southwest, and by the ranching and mining interests to the east and north. If you want to learn more about the states fascinating mining history, you wont have to dig very deep as youll find numerous mining tours in. Use the name lookup index to determine if a person was a member of the 10th mountain division, and the company or regiment with which he served. For adventure and entertainment, try favorites like historic downtown trinidad, which features 6. The early 1900s were a time of great social upheaval in our country. It was founded in 1862 soon after coal was discovered in the region. Famous men of the era spent time in trinidad including billy the kid, kit carson, wyatt earp, and bat masterson who was the marshall in the 1880s. Andrews takes the long view, tracing how the regions geology, the rise of the railroads and other factors helped to shape the coalfields and sow the seeds of conflict.
Trinidad lies 21 mi 34 km north of raton, new mexico, and 195 mi 314 km south of denver. On august 7, 1902, the bowen town coal mine, six miles north of trinidad. Browse our selection of over 1170 hotels in colorado springs co. Railroads in colorado, 18581948 railroads played a significant role in the overall development of colorado. One is the mine currently operated as a fee mining site at crater of diamonds state park.
View all hotels near southern colorado coal miners memorial on tripadvisor. Trinidad postcard post card santa fe station, trinidad. Discover ludlow massacre site in trinidad, colorado. The book describes the events of that day through the written accounts of survivors, and in other chapters describes longlost towns and settlements in the walsenburg and trinidad areas. Trinidad, colorado news newspapers books scholar jstor. The coal from these mines was highly prized for its quality in creating coking fuels for colorados smelters. Abandoned by the early 1970s, it became known as the first rural hippie commune. As the mines and smelters of colorado grew into a major industry, trinidad prospered and became a wealthy commercial center full of stunning victorian homes and buildings. These materials explore the working lives of latino coal miners in boulder county, including the dangers they faced, and where their families lived. To top it all off, youll score cheap hotels in trinidad that let you spend more on your activities and less on your lodging. Trinidad was first explored by spanish and mexican traders, who liked its proximity to the santa fe trail. Entertainment arcade games arts books calendar comics movies. In later years, he did a lot of writing while a guest at the historic strater hotel on main avenue in durango.
All denver public library locations will be closed on monday, february 17 in observance of the presidents day holiday. Through telling the story of their lives and relationships, the novel. The colorado division of reclamation, mining and safetys drms coal program submitted a formal program amendment co040for to the office of su. Colorado history cripple creek mining district, by. So many people were killed by coal company guards that day that bodies of the unfortunate victims were found years later in the surrounding hills. Trinidad history trinidad was incorporated in 1876 and became the supply and transportation center for the regions coal mines. Trinidad, colorados history as a stop on the santa fe trail. The ludlow massacre was a massacre perpetrated by antistriker militia during the colorado coalfield war. Colorado division of reclamation, mining and safety. Colorados rich mining history is documented in archival, photographic, and artifact. They are saltoftheearth characters who eventually end up in the mining towns in the trinidad and walsenburg areas of colorado. The united states has two locations that operated as commercial diamond mines. Ludlow massacre site trinidad, colorado atlas obscura.
Coal resources of the trinidad coal field in huerfano and las. This site provides resources for those interested in teaching boulder county latino history. The population was 9,096 as of the 2010 census, up slightly from 9,078 in 2000. With the passing of the santa fe trail, mining and cattle companies became chief industries for the area by 1908, morley camp south of trinidad was the most active mine in southern colorado. Composer lori laitmans opera ludlow is based on masons book.
50 1482 361 952 1393 508 888 1601 755 1238 1510 507 709 1409 484 597 181 692 91 37 896 3 774 1162 101 800 1257 972 432 838