( CNN ) -- They spent 69 days in the bowels of the earth , 700 meters deep , not knowing if they would survive . For 17 days after the mine in which they were working collapsed , nobody even knew if they were alive . Friday marks the one-year observance of the fateful incident in Chile that trapped 33 miners who were saved in a miraculous rescue that made headlines around the world . Fame came after the rescue , which faded quicker in their country than abroad , and since then they have traveled to several destinations all-expenses-paid , though many report having money problems . Four of the miners will observe the anniversary of the event that changed their lives in Washington where an exhibit in their honor is being opened at the Smithsonian Institution . Mario Sepulveda , one of the miners attending , reflected on the historical significance of the event . `` In spite of our painful experience , it is very important to us that what is being exhibited will show the world what happened , '' Sepulveda said . He was the second to be rescued from the mine . Since they were rescued last October , the miners have traveled the world . Edison Pena , the miner whose underground workouts in the darkness garnered attention , ran the New York Marathon less than a month after being rescued . Pena also appeared on `` The Late Show with Dave Letterman '' on CBS where he impersonated his idol , Elvis Presley . Then , in January , he was invited as a guest of honor to the Graceland Mansion , in Memphis , Tennessee . Pena had dreamed of visiting the mansion since he became an Elvis fan as a teenager . In January , the entire group of 33 was honored at Disney World in Orlando , Florida . While there , they served as honorary Grand Marshals of Disney 's Main Street U.S.A parade . They spent a full week in Orlando enjoying the attractions . But at home in Chile celebrity has not been what they expected , according to one of the miners , Jorge Galleguillos . The good will from their country faded fast , he said . `` They love us more abroad . They congratulate us , they want to touch us and get a blessing from us . That 's not the case in Chile . Only a few greet us with affection ; many more say hi with envy , '' Galleguillos said . A movie about the miners ' ordeal is in the works . According to the Hollywood Reporter , producer Mike Medavoy ( `` Shutter Island '' , `` Black Swan '' ) has snapped up the right to the story and Jose Rivera ( `` Motorcycle Diaries '' ) has been enlisted to adapt the screenplay . But at home , relations with the Chilean government are strained . Thirty-one of the 33 miners filed a lawsuit accusing the agency that oversees mining of failing to ensure safety measures . Carlos Barrios , the 13th miner rescued , says they 're not targeting President Sebastian Pinera . `` We 're not suing the current president . This has been happening for a long time . This happened during the administrations of other presidents . Why did n't they take a closer look [ at the situation ] ? '' Barrios asked . Hernan de Solminihac , the Chilean mining minister , said his government respects the miners ' right to sue . `` As any Chilean citizen , the miners have the freedom and the right to file any lawsuit they wish . They have chosen to do so and our judicial authorities are evaluating the suit , '' he said . The miners are seeking the equivalent of $ 16 million in damages for the collapse of the mine where they were trapped last year in the Chilean Atacama desert . They say their lawsuit is n't about the money , but about raising awareness about the working conditions for miners in their country , which they say , has been neglected for a long time .
Friday is the one-year anniversary of the Chile mine collapse . Four of the miners are at the opening of a new exhibit at the Smithsonian . Fame for them has faded in Chile , one miner says . Abroad , a movie is in the works .