Ladies of the Mines in Colorado

We’re probably all familiar with the Hollywood stereotype of the 19th century mining town harlot with a heart of gold. Less familiar is the role women played in mining history in the Centennial State, where many of them inhabited hardscrabble mining towns alongside their male counterparts. They prospected, including Mary Cathleen Gortner, the first woman to strike a gold claim in her own name; raised families; recorded history and generally kept life trudging along.

Now, these behind-the-scenes heroes will get their day in the limelight as Rocky Mountain PBS debuts a new documentary “Ladies of the Mines,” part of its “Colorado Experience” series, next Tues., Jan. 12, at Fort Lewis College.