Community remembrance

An Idaho mining town remembers to never forget the Sunshine Mine disaster 51 years later

BIG CREEK, Idaho – The morning of Tuesday, May 2 marked the 51st anniversary of the disaster that claimed 91 lives at the Sunshine Mine in Silver Valley, Idaho. Hundreds of people, including those in the mining community, students, and family members made their way to the memorial statue at the bottom of Big Creek to celebrate, remember, and mourn those lives lost. With the air of grief still lingering over the Silver Valley’s mining community from the death of 26-year-old Blaik Nutting just 21 days prior, that Tuesday was a somber reminder that even with the advances in technology and safety, accidents can and do still happen - and that the most important thing that comes out of the mine each day is the miner...