The day the stacks came down: 30 years later
Just after 2 p.m. on May 26, 1996, the final Bunker Hill smokestack was demolished in front of thousands of spectators - many who had traveled from outside the area to watch the destruction. The demolition signified the end of the previous mining era and a shift toward tourism for the Silver Valley.
Courtesy photo
An aerial shot of the Bunker Hill Smelting Complex. You can see at least three of the facility's four smokestacks in the image.
Courtesy photo
Almost any flat area near Kellogg or Smelterville was filled with spectators for the demolition. Those feeling especially brave watched from places like this railyard, which sat just a few hundred feet from the stacks.
Courtesy photo
Crews prep the base of one of the Bunker Hill smokestacks prior to their demolition in 1996.
Courtesy photo
This photo shows the holes that were drilled into the bases of the stacks before demolition crews filled them with explosives.
Courtesy photo
KELLOGG — Thirty years is a long time, but for many Silver Valley residents, it feels like just yesterday when the community gathered to watch the Bunker Hill stacks come tumbling down.
May 26, 1996, was the day the stacks fell. But to understand why they were demolished, it’s necessary to go back to a time before they even existed.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
