Posted by Rob Graham on March 25, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Located 650 feet under Hutchinson, Ks, the Underground Salt Mine was named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas. The mine serves as a storage facility for numerous companies, as well as Hollywood, and is also still an active mine. Guided tours are available for a very small portion of the mine. More info can be found at http://www.undergroundmuseum.org/index.php . This photo was taken outside the elevator, looking down the tunnel to the gift shop and Hollywood display. 50D, ISO 800, 1/13, f/2.8, handheld.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on March 25, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Looks like a place I know Rob.
My summer job in high school was working in an underground warehouse in Kansas City, KS. They had all sorts of products stored there. Each morning a train would back in to the cave and each two man crew was assigned a boxcar.
Most times our crew was given a "butter" car. Not your average run of the mill butter mind you, no these tubs (actually frozen USDA boxes) weighed 67 lbs each. Each boxcar contained just over 200,000 lbs of butter total, stacked about 7'-8' high. In less than an eight hour shift we would repalletize 100 tons of butter for storage in the cold vaults.
Working that job made me one strong sob in my youth! And rich to boot. I was pulling down a lofty $4.32 an hour in 1971!
Posted by Brad Mangas on March 26, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Very nice Rob. A very good friend of mine grew up in Lyons and has always told me we need to go to the salt mines. It's still on my list of Kansas places to see. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Rob Graham on March 26, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Wayne, that sounds like quite the job you held. Brian, the rock is zebra striped, so maybe pepper in the salt :). I'd never been to the salt mines, and while once was fine, I'm not sure I'd go back anytime soon.
Discussion
3 repliesMy summer job in high school was working in an underground warehouse in Kansas City, KS. They had all sorts of products stored there. Each morning a train would back in to the cave and each two man crew was assigned a boxcar.
Most times our crew was given a "butter" car. Not your average run of the mill butter mind you, no these tubs (actually frozen USDA boxes) weighed 67 lbs each. Each boxcar contained just over 200,000 lbs of butter total, stacked about 7'-8' high. In less than an eight hour shift we would repalletize 100 tons of butter for storage in the cold vaults.
Working that job made me one strong sob in my youth! And rich to boot. I was pulling down a lofty $4.32 an hour in 1971!