The Southern Colorado Coal Miners Memorial is located on West Main Street, in downtown Trinidad, Colorado. The memorial pays tribute the the hardworking coal miners–active, retired, and deceased–of the region.

It is a life-size replica of men working in a coal mine. The bronze representations of the three men show them doing mining jobs. The statues are atop a black granite base, upon which the names of coal miners from 18 states are inscribed.

Historically, coal mining has been very important to Las Animas County, of which Trinidad is the county seat. The town was founded in 1862, after coal was discovered in the region. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad,_Colorado, the discovery of coal “led to an influx of immigrants, eager to capitalize on this important natural resource. By the late 1860s, the town had about 1,200 residents.” The coal miners and their families spent their hard-earned money in Trinidad, thus contributing greatly to the growth and success of the town.

Also, the Ludlow Massacre happened only about twelve miles northwest of Trinidad. Briefly,

The Ludlow Massacre was an attack by the Colorado National Guard and Colorado Fuel & Iron Company camp guards on a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families at Ludlow, Colorado, on April 20, 1914. Some two dozen people, including women and children, were killed.

(Learn more about the Ludlow Massacre here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre)

It makes sense to have a memorial to coal miners in the small town of Trinidad.

It is a good spot to reflect upon all the men and women who have lost their lives in and because of coal mines. It’s also a good spot to think about the coal miners who are right now risking their lives for our comfort.

(I took all of the photos in this post.)