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Granite Mountain Mine MemorialGranite Mountain Mine Memorial is a tribute to the 168 precious lives lost on June 8th, 1917 in the nation's most horrible hard rock mining disasters ever. The poignant memorial is largely made up of concrete and brick and has an open air plaza which provides a clear view of the Continental Divide and Summit Valley. There is a display of plaques replicating the touching letter samples unearthed, posting the last messages which the trapped miners wrote to their family. Also inscribed are tales of heroism of people who survived the fire and of those who helped save many lives on the fateful night, but themselves succumbed. The mining history of Butte which was once called “The Richest Hill on Earth" also comes to light at the memorial. Increased demand for copper and precious metals during the World War I saw the number of miners going up to as high as 14000 from the mere 2000 in 1883 when mining activity commenced. The fateful night of June 8 in the year 1917 had about 410 men on night shift at the Granite Mountain Mine when the deadly fire broke out. Though majority escaped, 168 miners died in the smoke and fire. Shocked by the event Butte went into mourning and fervently rallied behind the survivors and the families of the deceased. The memorial was conceived almost immediately but was built only in 1996. Donors who want to contribute to the memorial can “purchase” bricks laid for pavers and have their feelings inscribed on the same.
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