Hanna, Carbon County, Wyoming
The purpose of this website is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing historical information about the Hanna Basin.
Website provided by Bob Leathers for the Hanna Basin Museum
Created August 1, 2010
Contact information: HannaBasinMuseum@gmail.com
Created August 1, 2010
Contact information: HannaBasinMuseum@gmail.com
Two Hundred Twenty Eight Miners Lost Their Lives
in the 1903 and 1908 Explosions of Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine in Hanna.
Memorial to the men who lost their lives in the disasters of the number one mine - june 30, 1903 and march 28, 1908 (While family collection taken by bob leathers)
Hanna Basin Museum
Hanna Basin Museum and Cummings/Crawford Cottage (While Family Collection taken by Bob Leathers, 2015)
Hanna Basin Museum Director: Sarah Jones
Hanna Basin Museum and Historical Society
P.O. Box 252
502 Front Street, Hanna WY 82327
(307) 325-6465
Summer Hours: Friday - Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 PM Winter Hours: Friday 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Hanna Basin Museum and Historical Society
P.O. Box 252
502 Front Street, Hanna WY 82327
(307) 325-6465
Summer Hours: Friday - Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 PM Winter Hours: Friday 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Summer hours start with Memorial Day and ends with labor day.
1889 Hanna Is Born
Bob Leathers
Click on the button to view the Hanna video.
Video: 1889 Hanna Is Born by Bob Leathers Video Music: It's a Working Man I Am by the Kilkennys
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MINE
The Hanna Cemetery
Bob Leathers
Days Gone By. A Wooden Coal Cart at the Hanna Basin Museum from one of the Hanna mines. (While Family Collection from Bob Leathers)
40 Numbers that Matter
- 326 men were killed in the Hanna Basin mines.
- 28 men are still at the bottom of the No. 1 mine.
- 85 men were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.
- 136 men were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.
- 42 men were buried in places or towns other than Hanna.
- 34 men were buried in places or towns unknown.
- 323 men died in 14 different Hanna Basin mines.
- 6 men died in the Hanna Basin surface mines.
- 317 men died in Hanna Basin underground mines.
- 1890 was the first year a miner died in a Hanna Basin mine.
- 1996 was the last year a miner died in a Hanna Basin mine.
- 14 was the age of the youngest boy killed in a Hanna Basin mine.
- 70 was the age of the oldest man killed in a Hanna Basin mine.
- 169 men were killed in the June 30, 1903 explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna.
- 25 were African Americans.
- 1 was from Belgium.
- 98 were from Finland.
- 1 was from Germany.
- 3 were from Ireland.
- 11 were from Italy.
- 8 were from Sweden.
- 22 were from the United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Wales)
- 1 was not recovered and is still at the bottom of the mine.
- 38 were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.
- 112 were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.
- 18 were buried elsewhere.
- 59 miners were killed in the March 28, 1908 explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna.
- 27 were not recovered and are still at the bottom of the mine.
- 10 were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.
- 17 were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.
- 5 were buried elsewhere.
- 18 Fire Crew miners died in the first explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna on March 28, 1908.
- 14 were not recovered and are still at the bottom of the mine.
- 2 were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.
- 2 were buried elsewhere.
- 41 Rescue Crew miners died in the second explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company’s No. 1 mine in Hanna on March 28, 1908.
- 13 were not recovered and are still at the bottom of the mine.
- 8 were buried in marked graves in the Hanna cemetery.
- 17 were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery.
- 3 were buried elsewhere.
Questions About the Hanna Coal Mines Answered
1. How long have the Hanna mines been producing coal?
The Hanna coal mines produced coal 123 years from 1889 to 2012. The last shipment of coal went out in 2012. The last 5 years the mines have been engaged in reclamation work.
The Hanna coal mines produced coal 123 years from 1889 to 2012. The last shipment of coal went out in 2012. The last 5 years the mines have been engaged in reclamation work.
2. How many fatalities occurred in the Hanna mines?
Over the years, the Hanna coal mines experienced 323 documented fatalities. The number is an astonishing average of 2.6 fatalities every year for 123 years.
Over the years, the Hanna coal mines experienced 323 documented fatalities. The number is an astonishing average of 2.6 fatalities every year for 123 years.
3. How many Union Pacific Coal Company mines produced coal in Hanna?
It depends on how the mines are counted, but my count is eight mines, the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 3.5, No. 4, No. 4A, No. 5 and No. 6. Each of the listed mines had its own slope or entry way.
It depends on how the mines are counted, but my count is eight mines, the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 3.5, No. 4, No. 4A, No. 5 and No. 6. Each of the listed mines had its own slope or entry way.
4. How many mines exploded in Hanna?
Only one mine in Hanna exploded. The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine violently erupted four times over its short history. The first explosion occurred in 1890 killing one man, the second time on June 30, 1903 killing 169 men and the third and fourth times on the same day, March 28, 1908 killing 59 men. A total of 229 lives were lost in the No. 1 mine explosions. There is no doubt the majority of deaths in the Hanna mines were caused by these explosions, but an additional 94 men were killed over the years in additional accidents. The No. 1 mine was permanently closed in 1909.
Only one mine in Hanna exploded. The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine violently erupted four times over its short history. The first explosion occurred in 1890 killing one man, the second time on June 30, 1903 killing 169 men and the third and fourth times on the same day, March 28, 1908 killing 59 men. A total of 229 lives were lost in the No. 1 mine explosions. There is no doubt the majority of deaths in the Hanna mines were caused by these explosions, but an additional 94 men were killed over the years in additional accidents. The No. 1 mine was permanently closed in 1909.
5. How many Hanna mine fatalities were not recovered from the mines?
Twenty eight miners still remain at the bottom of the mine, all of them are in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine. They include 1 miner from the 1903 explosion and 27 miners from the 1908 explosion.
Twenty eight miners still remain at the bottom of the mine, all of them are in the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine. They include 1 miner from the 1903 explosion and 27 miners from the 1908 explosion.
6. If the Hanna mines experienced 323 fatalities over time, how many of those were buried in the Hanna cemetery?
We found physical evidence that only 85 of the 323 fatalities were buried in the Hanna cemetery.
We found physical evidence that only 85 of the 323 fatalities were buried in the Hanna cemetery.
7. Were any of the 323 fatalities buried in other places or towns?
Yes, we have documentation 42 of the 323 were buried in other Wyoming towns such as Carbon, Laramie, Encampment, Saratoga, Rawlins, Elk Mountain and Almy along with other states such as Colorado, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri and Montana.
Yes, we have documentation 42 of the 323 were buried in other Wyoming towns such as Carbon, Laramie, Encampment, Saratoga, Rawlins, Elk Mountain and Almy along with other states such as Colorado, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri and Montana.
8. Have all the 323 fatalities been found or accounted for?
No, we know the number of fatalities in the Hanna mines, but we have not accounted for the burial place or town of all the fatalities. Unfortunately there are 31 miners we do not know the place or town they were buried in. The search goes on!
No, we know the number of fatalities in the Hanna mines, but we have not accounted for the burial place or town of all the fatalities. Unfortunately there are 31 miners we do not know the place or town they were buried in. The search goes on!
9. Unmarked graves are numerous in the Hanna cemetery. How many miners killed in the Hanna mines were buried in unmarked graves in the Hanna cemetery?
Our research indicates that at least 137 miners that lost their lives in the Hanna mines were buried in the Hanna cemetery in unmarked graves. A rather startling number and a rather startling reason for it.
Our research indicates that at least 137 miners that lost their lives in the Hanna mines were buried in the Hanna cemetery in unmarked graves. A rather startling number and a rather startling reason for it.
10. Who was the youngest fatality in the Hanna mines?
Matti Lundberg was 14 when he was killed in the June 30, 1903 explosion of Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 mine in Hanna. He is buried in Plot 258 in the Hanna cemetery.
