Colorado's immense northern coal field, centered beneath these rolling hills, contributed to the state's early development and growth and to the birth of nearby towns. In this area, miners and mine owners battled over workers' conditions, wages, and rights through many conflicts over the years. In 1927, tensions mounted for weeks as pickets urged Columbine Mine workers to join the statewide strike called by the Industrial Workers of the World. On November 21, several hundred men and women gathered at the mine, 1-1/2 miles northwest of here. After a confrontation with state police, gunfire erupted, killing six union miners and wounding many others. Following this tragedy, mine owners finally signed lasting union contracts with the Union Mine Workers of America. The sacrifice of these miners and their families manifested the struggle for the rights and dignity of all Colorado coal miners.