The Mining Legacy of Carbon County

Since before Montana became a state in 1889, Carbon County was and is well known for in economic contributions through mining.

Although the first prospectors came to the Rock Creek Valley in search of gold, they discovered an asset that proved far more necessary for the rapidly growing industries in America—Coal: Black Gold at the time. Many of the current population are descended from immigrants who moved here in hopes of making a living from digging for coal. Several coal mines would open up in the hillsides near BearCreek, Belfry, and Red Lodge, but eventual tragedy would damper and eventually shut down the deep-shaft coal extraction in the area.

In 1943, an explosion in the Smith Mine would end the lives of 74 miners, causing devastation to their families and the surrounding communities. To this day, it is the largest mining tragedy in Montana history. Coal mining would eventually come to a halt. However, in 1986, the opening of the Stillwater Mine (over by Nye, MT) would garner access to valuable assets for today’s economic and technological developments (palladium and platinum).

In recognition of the economic cornerstone for a significant amount of families in the area, the museum has dedicated and developed its entire basement into an immersive walk-through simulation of the mining legacies of Carbon County and the Beartooth Mountain Area.