On Wednesday, July 10, the National Park Service (NPS) awarded grants to eight recipients to help preserve battlefields and other sites of armed conflict through its American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP).
One of those grants went to an interdisciplinary team working with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) to develop an interpretive masterplan for the site of the Ludlow Massacre in Las Animas County. The grant awardee team includes UCCS’s Department of Anthropology faculty member Karin Larkin, who has been collaborating with the UMWA at the site for decades.
According to NPS, this grant will support the development of a comprehensive preservation and interpretation plan for the Ludlow Tent Colony Site National Historic Landmark (NHL), where a 10-day armed conflict occurred between the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the Colorado National Guard, known as the Colorado Coalfield War or War of 1914.
The Ludlow Tent Colony Site NHL memorializes the battle comprised of the Ludlow Massacre and the Ten Day War of 1914. These events were part of a labor battle between striking coal miners and the Colorado National Guard. The UMWA declared a general strike after several attempts to get major coal companies to meet a list of demands, including honoring the eight-hour workday and Colorado’s existing mine safety rules, were rejected by the company. On April 20, 1914, a gun battle broke out between miners on strike with the UMWA and the Colorado National Guard.
During this battle, at least 21 people were killed, including 2 women and 11 children who died under their burning tent at the end of the day’s violent battle. Their deaths sparked warfare throughout the region for ten days. This episode ended with federal soldiers deployed to quell the violence.
The strike resulting in the Ludlow Massacre and the Ten Day War marked a turning point in U.S. labor history. The aftermath resulted in a congressional inquiry as part of the Commission on Industrial Relations investigating similar labor battles throughout the United States.
Changes to state and national labor laws and corporate policies were the result, including the enforcement of child labor and mining safety laws, and the establishment of an eight-hour workday. The Ludlow battle illustrates the growing pains the U.S. experienced during a time of industrialization and mass immigration. To this day, the UMWA refers to the site as their Gettysburg, signifying its national importance. For over 100 years, the UMWA has held an annual memorial, drawing regional, national and international visitors.
This grant will support the development of a Master Plan to guide the preservation and interpretation of the Ludlow Tent Colony Site in a sustainable and ethically responsible manner. According to the grant narrative, ”Archaeologist Dr. Karin Larkin of University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) and historian Dr. Fawn-Amber Montoya of James Madison University are established experts on Ludlow in their fields. They will serve as consultants in development of the Master Plan, collaborate with prospective team members, and provide key connections for descendent stakeholder input and involvement.”
As part of an agreement with the UMWA, the UCCS Department of Anthropology currently houses the archaeological remains of the Ludlow Tent Colony site, excavated between 1998 and 2002 as part of an archaeological project funded by History Colorado’s State Historical Fund.
Larkin regularly partners with the UMWA and the NPS on projects related to Ludlow, including the recent cellar restoration that made the news in 2021.
“We are excited to take this important next step in ensuring that Ludlow’s important history is shared with the public and accessible to everyone who visits the site,” Larkin said.
National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said, “The diverse grant opportunities provided through the American Battlefield Protection Program help our preservation partners study and protect almost 400 years of conflict history.”
“By supporting these localized efforts, all Americans gain the opportunity to learn from these conflicts and understand their impact on the foundation and growth of this country,” he concluded.