Colorado Experience: The Lost Irish Miners of Leadville

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Tens of thousands of Irish miners fleeing famine risked it all for a better life in the mining boom of 1880’s Leadville. Their labor was cheap, their lives short, and their bodies often buried in the pauper section of Evergreen Cemetery. Can digging up the past and celebrating the forgotten dead shed light on the immigrant stories of Colorado?
Watch "Colorado Experience: The Lost Irish Miners of Leadville" Thursday, April 27 at 8 p.m.
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[@BurntTransGarage]

In a trip to Ireland, I visited the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience in Wexford. This ship moved imigrants from Ireland to US, and manure from Latin America back to Ireland. They believe that manure was the cause of the famine. They also mentioned, like this video, that the famine brought the Irish population from 8 milliion to just 5...and they never recovered. Through famine and immigration, Ireland is still at about 5 million people. I left my heart in Ireland, such an amazing group of people. Thanks, RMT PBS, for keeping this local history alive. I love this seriese more than anything else I've ever watched.

[@robfitzsimmons8003]

The enduring story of immigrant struggle. So proud of my sister

[@ephjay6t87]

Many of the Hispanic people of Leadville are of naturalized Mexicans after the Mexican American War. Many moved in from New Mexico and you can taste it there today by trying "Chili Verde". It is fabulous! My 4th grade teacher had memories of the late nineteen -teens and 20's. She told us that on St. Patty's day, the Irish Catholics would wear green and line up on one side of Harrison Ave, and the Irish Protestants would wear orange and line up on the other. They would meet in the middle with fists and then join each other afterwards for pints. That's what she said. I remember exploring the old graves, my family is buried there now. I have much love for the wonderful people of Leadville.

[@charler22]

Excellent documentary memorializing the remarkable people of Leadville who worked in the mines. I wasn't aware of the immigrants there but will make a point of stopping at the Evergreen Cemetery next time I'm in Leadville. Thank you for raising awareness of this!!

[@KristinaDawsonMulkey]

I had relatives there! ❤

[@crookedbird6589]

There is a Irish railroaders mass grave in Funks Grove ,IL. They died of malaria I think while constructing the Alton RR. There is a small monument to them. I wonder if the Irish Goverment knows of it?

[@kennethcurtis1856]

An intresting city with a Doc Holloday connection.

[@paulhenson4434]

Yeah I've been in that store. Use to have his "loaded dice" in the window. Lived in the Ville for 10 yrs. Lots of history.

[@ephjay6t87]

Rumor has it, he was dying of tuberculosis and couldn't afford his $1 a month rent. A hotshot thought he could take him but the old dentist was still quicker😉

[@peaceiliveby]

Just started watching ,,👍🏼😊☘️🍀

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Please put on Again its Yawning time here nam n Ireland but love thosr past stories!

[@leadvillejim]

That was great

[@dragon90815]

I have English miners family died in Leadville mine accident.

[@MoonBerryShrimp]

75% of people buried there had Irish surnames, with an average age of 22. Oof. The history of discriminated minorities in this country isn't just black-and-white, thanks for telling this story.

[@ephjay6t87]

Most of all the natives, especially Utes, who called Leadville home on their seasonal trips. Now Texans fill that gap LOL.

[@alanscott3999]

Within 5 minutes, the show wandered off track. Oh well, life in PBS land.

[@watchinit6063]

Alan Scott , How did it wander off track?

[@sophiasummers1637]

Leadville wasn't always an immigrant community. Fist people, lived there first

[@mtbalpinecounty]

💪

[@timothyhannifin6291]

❤

[@jjb.6152]

Nice

[@royramey5659]

One reason they come and none of these people say is free hand outs

[@corruptduboiscountyindiana5058]

is she talking about legal or illegal immigration?

[@aikulovekitten6501]

When PBS makes a Docu-joint on Mexican Immigrants will there be an Irishman used for the thumbnail 🤔

[@jjb.6152]

Watch the end ❤

[@ephjay6t87]

Hahahaha! The Irish and "Mexicans" went to the same church. We still do, even if it's because our grandmothers make us.

[@wallysmith9261]

These historians cater to their emotions and don't realize that the world today with all the products that make their lives better would not exist if the world was run the way that doesn't offend their emotions.

[@beepseatsfindingfoodtreasu8756]

Being a relative of a Leadville miner I can tell you that they had very little in the way of convenience and everything was the companies. The hours were 14 hours if you wanted to keep ahead of the debt you owed the company for food clothing tools carbide and shack housing. Of which because of the poor construction many burned down. They lost three children due to a fire in their row. While the mine owners lived in extravagant homes. Unless you have real knowledge of the conditions these people had to endure just to feed their families you have no basis for slagging them. It was on their blood sweat and tears this country was built.

[@ShrimplyPibblesJr]

Teach my local affiliate how to make documentaries this food.

[@aikulovekitten6501]

Maybe you should have used a picture of actual Irishman for your thumbnail...instead of a stock photo of a Mexican Cowboy... But what do Aik know?😮

[@jjb.6152]

Watch to the end. Then you'll get it 😊

[@texasranchadventures]

It’s the same story going round this time again. Immigrants make this land. Hopefully they too will be honored and respected for their sacrifices one day.

[@bethbartlett5692]

The level of prejudice doesn't factor, how do folks get that deep in their insecurity to be that prejudice? Just confounds me. You have to be raised and with a focus in prejudices, been taught this level of prejudice. (The Native Americans, Irish, Chinese, Blacks, Italians, Mexicans, ...) Who was promoting the attitude? English or Germans? Not many ethnic groups left. ... and I'm a Sociologist/Behavioralist and Historian ☘️ Irish, County Kerry Lineage

[@vel230]

Sounds as if you, like all human beings, have some predjucies of your own. It's all about economics, clawing you way to the table for a piece of the pie.

[@johnkrischan622]

The Irish were enslaved long before any black folk were in this country. We made less as miners And less than anyone else doing the same job. You want to pay black folks for reparations . You need to start with the Irish 1st. My family still live in Leadville and surrounding areas ILM

[@robfitzsimmons8003]

Were the Irish forcibly removed and put into slavery before 1700? I'm Irish, born in Leadville. I'm white. Nobody has ever looked at me sideways because I have an Irish heritage. People of color are still marginalized. Yes, the Irish were treated horribly as new immigrants, but the white skin gives you a pass today. Racism still exists, and it is based on color. Have you personally ever been marginalized for being Irish?

[@texasranchadventures]

@@robfitzsimmons8003 🫡🙏

[@jensherman2771]

Yes Rob. Yes they were.