|
Kentucky Historical Society
KHS to Dedicate Historical Marker to Commemorate Hurricane Creek Mine Disaster
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2011) — The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will dedicate a historical marker to commemorate the Hurricane Creek mine disaster at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1370 Hurricane Creek Road in Hyden.
On Dec. 30, 1970 an explosion caused by ignited coal dust occurred in mine shafts 15 and 16 at the Finley Coal Mine in Leslie County. The blast resulted in the deaths of 38 men. One miner, who was blown out of the mine, survived. The disaster occurred exactly one year after the passage of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. It remains the worst coal mining disaster in Kentucky history.
The dedication of this marker is part of the opening ceremony for the Hurricane Creek Miner Memorial.
The Kentucky Historical Marker Program, administered by KHS in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, commemorates historical sites, events and personalities throughout the state. Through the program, the wealth of Kentucky history is made accessible to the public on markers along the state’s roadways. The markers are on-the-spot history lessons that add drama and interest to the countryside for Kentuckians as well as tourists.
For more information about the program, contact Becky Riddle, Kentucky Historical Marker program coordinator, at 502-564-1792, ext. 4474 or becky.riddle@ky.gov.
-30-
An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, established in 1836, is committed to helping people understand, cherish and share Kentucky's history. The KHS history campus includes the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Old State Capitol and the Kentucky Military History Museum at the State Arsenal. For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit www.history.ky.gov.
|