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 area.
Website provided by Bob Leathers for the Hanna Basin Museum
Created August 1, 2010
Created August 1, 2010
Hanna's Japanese community. The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine and No. 4 mine in the top background. The No. 2 Mine Slope ran directly under the Japanese town.
What's New or Updated On The Hanna Basin Museum Website?
New: The Hanna History pages are not available at this time. The pages are being merged and updated. (June 17, 2017)
New: Museum>Recommended Reading List for Additional Information About the Hanna Basin. A new page under the Museum tab has been created to list the books that contains Hanna Basin information.
Updated: Hanna Cemetery>Hanna Cemetery Records. Many new records for men killed in the Hanna mines were added or updated. Other records were updated and a few corrections made. The Japanese monuments in the Hanna cemetery were transcribed and the results were added to the records. (June 14, 2017)
Updated: Museum>Episcopal Church - History, Bell and Cross. New and updated history added to the page. (June 14, 2017)
Updated and Moved: Gallery>Hanna Trains. Union Pacific Engine 844 video and pictures were added to the bottom of the page. (June 14, 2017)
Updated and Moved: Hanna Cemetery>Hanna Cemetery - Japanese Monuments Transcribed. The page was updated with a new video. (June 14,2017)
Question About the Hanna Coal Mines Answered
Days Gone By. A Wooden Coal Cart at the Hanna Basin Museum from one of the Hanna mines. (While Family Collection from Bob Leathers)
Questions and Answers
from
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MINE - The Hanna Miner
Bob Leathers
1. How long have the Hanna mines been producing coal?
The Hanna coal mines have been operational from 1889 to 2017, a streak of 128 consecutive years. The last 5 years have been in reclamation work. The last shipment of coal went out in 2012.
The Hanna coal mines have been operational from 1889 to 2017, a streak of 128 consecutive years. The last 5 years have been in reclamation work. The last shipment of coal went out in 2012.
2. How many fatalities occurred in the Hanna mines?
Over the 128 years, the Hanna coal mines experienced 323 documented fatalities. The number is an astonishing average of 2.5 fatalities every year for 128 years.
Over the 128 years, the Hanna coal mines experienced 323 documented fatalities. The number is an astonishing average of 2.5 fatalities every year for 128 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.
More to come .........
Hanna Basin Museum
Hanna Basin Museum and Cummings/Crawford Cottage (While Family Collection taken by Bob Leathers, 2015)
Hanna Basin Museum Director: Nancy Anderson
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
Hanna's Front Street in 1926
The images were taken near the railroad tracks facing North. The images run West to East.
Place All Three Images End to Form Front Street.
(Gert and Rob Milliken Family Collection from Gary Milliken)
(Gert and Rob Milliken Family Collection from Gary Milliken)
(Gert and Rob Milliken Family Collection from Gary Milliken)
