Rawlins Field Office
| Contacts: | Tyson Finnicum, | |||
| 307-212-7363 |
Carbon Cemetery Named to National Register of Historic Places
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rawlins Field Office announces the listing of the Carbon Cemetery in the National Register of Historic Places.
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There are 239 marked gravesites in Carbon Cemetery, 43 of which are workers killed in the Old Carbon coal mines. A stable boss searching for stray mules, who was attacked and killed by Native Americans, is considered Carbon Cemetery’s first burial in 1869. The cemetery boasts wood and stone monuments, as well as metal grillwork surrounding some of the burial sites.
The cemetery has been largely abandoned until the early 21st century when the Hanna Basin Historical Society and CCA launched an effort to protect and restore it. Today, the cemetery is cared for and maintained by CCA.
BLM Supervisory Archeologist Bonni Bruce says, “The site not only provides a look at the region’s importance in the history of coal mining, but the significance of Wyoming’s role in U.S. history as well.” For more information contact Bonni Bruce, 307-328-4287, or visit the Hanna Basin Museum online at http://www.hannabasinmuseum.com/index.html.
The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of historic properties worthy of preservation. Listing in the National Register provides recognition of the property’s historic significance, and listings are eligible for grants to perform preservation work.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Rawlins Field Office 1300 N. Third Street Rawlins, WY 82301