Source: KXRM Colorado Springs
July 10, 2024
(TRINIDAD, Colo.) — The National Park Service (NPS) announced on Wednesday, July 10 awarded grants to eight recipients to help preserve battlefields and other sites of armed conflict, including the site of the Ludlow Massacre in Las Animas County.
“The diverse grant opportunities provided through the American Battlefield Protection Program help our preservation partners study and protect almost 400 years of conflict history,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “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.”
According to NPS, one of the projects funded will support the development of a comprehensive preservation and interpretation plan for the Ludlow Tent Colony Site, where a 10-day armed conflict occurred between the United Mine Workers of America and the Colorado National Guard, known as the Colorado Coalfield War or “War of 1914.”
NPS shared the history of the Ludlow Massacre, after several attempts to get major coal companies to meet their demands, including honoring the eight-hour workday and Colorado’s existing mine safety rules, the United Mine Workers declared a general strike to force the issue.
On April 20, 2014, National Guardsmen aligned with the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company attacked the Ludlow Tent Colony to try and break the strike, killing 21 people including 11 children.
The event started 10 days of continuous warfare in Colorado until President Woodrow Wilson ordered federal troops to disarm both sides and restore order. United Mine Workers of America was awarded $151,976.15 for the project.
Written By: Brett Yager
