History Revealed

Excavations of the Ludlow tent cellars allowed archaeologists to add to the historical record by providing the most comprehensive snapshot of daily life in the tent colony. Archaeology at Ludlow sought to reconstruct the strikers' day-to-day existence, including cellar use for storage, extra living space, and protection from weather and occasional gunfire, as recalled in oral testimonies. After the tragic event forced families to abandon their possessions, cleanup after the fire turned the cellars into convenient trash pits, concentrating the contents of entire households. Analysis of artifacts revealed the furniture, kitchen items, dishes, toys, clothing, and food used in the tent colony, and studying these possessions helped determine household makeup, family size, relative affluence, and nationality. Artifacts from the Colorado Coalfield War Project now serve public education through museum exhibits and traveling history trunks for school-age children.

Colorado · United States