Entry No. 8 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: haunted
Sunshine Miners Memorial
On May 2, 1972 a fire broke out roughly a mile underground at the Sunshine silver mine, and carbon monoxide killed 91 of the 173 men working that day, the worst mining disaster in Idaho history. Two miners were pulled out alive after a week entombed below. A 13-foot steel miner hoisting his rock drill stands at the mouth of Big Creek Canyon, with the 91 names and a poem by former governor Phil Batt cast at its base.
The story
On the morning of May 2, 1972, 173 men went nearly a mile underground into the Sunshine silver mine. Shortly before midday, fire broke out in the underground workings, filling the stopes and shafts with invisible, deadly carbon monoxide. While 82 miners managed to fight their way back to daylight, 91 were suffocated in the dark—making it the deadliest mining disaster in Idaho history. Rescue crews worked frantically for a week before pulling the final two survivors out alive from the depths.
At the mouth of Big Creek Canyon, right where the canyon opens up to the highway, stands sculptor Ken Lonn's grim, unyielding memorial: a 13-foot steel miner hoisting his rock drill over his shoulder. Cast into the base are all 91 names of the men lost that day, alongside a commemorative poem written by former Idaho Governor Phil Batt.
You won't be taking a tour of the Sunshine Mine itself—the actual site remains private property further up the canyon road. But stopping at the canyon mouth puts you right on the fault line of Silver Valley trauma, a stark reminder of what lies carved into the rock directly beneath your feet.
What it's like
Pull straight off I-90 at Exit 54 and you'll find the memorial standing in an open pull-off at the canyon entrance. There are no gift shops, tickets, or docents—just an open-air site accessible 24/7. Interstate traffic hums in the background, but standing beneath the towering steel miner to read through all 91 names carved into the base brings a sudden, heavy quiet. Give yourself 15 to 20 minutes to take it in; stopping near dusk makes the steel silhouette against the dark canyon backdrop hit even harder.
The move: Pull off I-90 at the canyon mouth to stand beneath the 13-foot steel miner and read all 91 names carved into the memorial base.
📍 Before you go Free, open-air, and accessible anytime right off I-90 Exit 54 about 40 miles east of CDA; the mine itself is private and not part of the visit.
- 📍 Big Creek / Kellogg, ID
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: I-90 Exit 54, Big Creek, Kellogg, ID 83837
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Crystal Gold Mine — Pair this memorial with an underground tour of a historic hard-rock mine two miles away to see the brutal subterranean world firsthand.
- Shoshone County Mining & Smelting Museum (Staff House Museum) — Head into Kellogg to see the executive side of Silver Valley history preserved inside a 1906 mine manager's mansion.
- Sierra Silver Mine Tour — Drive seven miles east to Wallace where retired miners demo the exact heavy rock-drilling methods represented on the memorial statue.
- Oasis Bordello Museum — Continue down I-90 into Wallace for another raw, unsanitized slice of Silver Valley history frozen in time.
Good to know
How do I find the memorial?
It sits right off I-90 at Exit 54 (Big Creek), about 40 miles east of Coeur d'Alene at the entrance to Big Creek Canyon.
Can I tour the actual Sunshine Mine?
No. The Sunshine Mine is private property located further up Big Creek Canyon and is off-limits to visitors.
How much does it cost to visit?
It is completely free and open to the public at any time of day or night.
Who built the miner statue?
The 13-foot steel statue was sculpted by Ken Lonn to honor the 91 miners who lost their lives in 1972.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Roadside America · spokesman.com · Wikipedia · visitnorthidaho.com · spokanehistorical.org
last checked: 2026-06-24