Montana has an incredibly rich mining history. While the booming industry certainly did a lot for our economy and growth, it was also a volatile and sometimes downright dangerous venture. Unfortunately, one of the worst mining disasters in American history happened right here in the Treasure State. Although over 75 years have passed since the Smith Mining Disaster, the tragedy will never be forgotten.

In 1943, The Smith Mine #3 was a busy, thriving mine.
cyclewidow / Flickr
But soon, this Bearcreek mine would be the site of the worst mining tragedy Montana had ever seen.
Early in the morning of February 27th, 77 coal miners entered the mouth of the Smith Mine for a day of work.
Greg Smith / Flickr
They descended about 7,000 feet into the Number 3 vein and got to work. Since it was a Saturday, the crew was smaller than normal.
At 9:37 a.m., an explosion fueled by a buildup of methane gas ripped through the mine.
Wikipedia
No one knows for sure what caused the explosion, but it was absolutely devastating. Only three of the 77 miners survived.

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30 of the miners were killed instantly by the explosion. The rest of the men died from suffocation while awaiting rescue.
Tassadara C / Flickr
Many of them lived long enough to write heartfelt messages to their families. Tragically, they left behind 58 spouses and 125 children.
After the explosion, rescuers rushed into the mine to try and save the men. Many of the rescuers became gravely ill in the process.
Wikipedia
The three miners who were rescued were critically injured and were rushed to the hospital for help. These days, the names of the lost lives are listed on a memorial plaque at the site.
Once the miners’ remains were removed, the mine was closed forever. The site remains open to visitors.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
It's terrifying to think something like this could have happened, but we're certainly thankful it never happened to this degree again.

Do you remember learning about the Smith Mining Disaster? Here are some other facts about Montana’s history.

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