The first coal camp on the original line on the Union Pacific
Railway was Carbon (1868-1902); these were the days of
picks, powder and mule power. In 1889, most mining activity
and much of Carbon's population shifted to nearby Hanna,
an exemplary company town controlled by the Union Pacific
Coal Company.

Hanna often is called the town that refused to die. In 1903
and again in 1908, Hannas Mine #1 exploded, the resulting
flames, fumes and cave-ins claiming at least 230 lives. In
1954 the Union Pacific locomotives shifted to oil power,
and Hanna was virtually abandoned. But a new mining
age just around the corner, that of the strip mine. By 1979
Arch Mineral employed 600 men in its surface mines near
Hanna. Even a modern underground mine, using long wall
technology, opened. The revival was brief as coal in the
Powder River Basin lured companies away. In 2007, a new
mine, using new technology, is anticipated to the south.
Hanna still refuses to die.

The Hanna Museum located at 502 Front Street is a must
see when visiting this historical coal mining town. The
delightful museum is listed on the National Registry
of Historic Places and offers a great wealth of information
about the history of coal mining in the Hanna area,
including a wonderful display showcasing the tools and
implements coal miners used in days gone past.



The historical photos of Hanna shown on this page
are provided courtesy of "The Hanna Museum".