‘Metaphors of Conflict: The Miners’ Union Hall (circa 1898) + The Rossland Provincial Courthouse (circa 1900)’ will discuss the origins and evolution of the miners’ labor movement in the North American Inter-mountain west, and its conflict with industrial capitalism and government during the second half of the 19th century’.

The spread of organized labor to Rossland, BC during the final years of the 19th century will also be discussed to better understand Rossland’s international significance as a major venue in this heritage of conflict. Through careful analysis of the architectural styles and decorative elements exhibited in Rossland’s Western Federation of Miners’ Union Hall and the BC Provincial Courthouse, this conflict will be interpreted and will further establish the unique significance of these two cultural resources as visual metaphors of this socio-political conflict. This analysis of architectural styles as metaphors of this conflict has not been addressed in any previous research.