Hurricane Creek Mine Disaster | Kentucky Studies

On December 30, 1970, an explosion at the Finley Mine on Hurricane Creek near Hyden, Kentucky, killed 38 miners. It is the deadliest mine disaster in Eastern Kentucky’s history. The disaster left almost 100 children without their fathers.

The explosion occurred when an illegal detonating cord used in blasting ignited coal dust inside the mine shafts. The sole survivor was A.T. Collins, who was blown out of the mine shaft. Collins died in 2007, and his son started the effort to build the memorial to the miners that stands today.