Sunshine Mine Disaster

Shoshone County · dedicated 2025 · I-90 (Near Exit 54), milepost 54.2

In 1972, America’s richest silver mine witnessed one of the nation’s deadliest mine accidents. On May 2, fire broke out a half mile underground at the nearby Sunshine Mine. Heat, smoke, and gas spread quickly through the intricate system of underground workings. Of the 173 workers who entered the mine that day, 91 died—all from carbon monoxide poisoning. This Idaho tragedy helped transform the nation’s mining industry, prompting passage of the federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The act brought stricter safety regulations—including rescue training and evacuation drills—that continue to govern hard-rock mining.

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Sunshine Mine Disaster

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