These remarkable sketches show life in the Coal Region during the middle part of the 19th century, a crucial time in the area's history.
Sketches of the Coal Region from 1877
“Among the Coal Mines” – A trip into the Coal Region in 1877
Explore an 1877 journey into Pennsylvania's Coal Region through a detailed article from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Monthly. Discover the rich history of anthracite coal mining, the picturesque town of Mauch Chunk, the famed Gravity Railroad, and insights into the era's industrial life, including the notorious Molly Maguires. Read the full story.
Fire at Kalmia Colliery in Schuylkill County nearly claimed lives | December 1871
In December 1871, a devastating fire nearly claimed lives at the Kalmia Colliery in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Flames swept through the breaker, trapping miners and sparking rumors of arson by the Molly Maguires in this turbulent era of coal industry violence in Pennsylvania history. Read the Full Story.
A colorized postcard of the Glen Burn Colliery at Shamokin
We recently acquired this colorized postcard of the Glen Burn Colliery near Shamokin
Silent film footage of a strip mine operation in Schuylkill County, 1917
A filmmaker recorded silent moving images of a strip mine in operation in Schuylkill County in December 1917.
Journal of the Buck Mountain and Vulcan collieries near Mahanoy City, 1897
This journal documents a year of work at two anthracite collieries in Schuylkill County.
“The Mine Mule Affected by the European War” – 1914
In October 1914, war raged on the European continent. In what was then called the "Great War," industrial-scale war was waged on a massive scale for the first time. Americans were paying attention. A commentator for the Pottsville Republican noted a curious thing about the suddenly mechanized armies smashing each other to pulp on the battlefields … Continue reading “The Mine Mule Affected by the European War” – 1914
An 1891 photograph shows workers at the Lincoln Colliery in Schuylkill County
A photograph from 1891 shows mineworkers posed at the bottom of the Lincoln Colliery breaker.
An August 1962 report warned of escalating disaster in Centralia, Pennsylvania
An August 1962 news report documents the early efforts to squelch an escalating mine fire at Centralia, Pennsylvania.
Remembering the Stockton Mine Disaster | December 18, 1869
On December 18, 1869, six people were killed when a mine cave-in swallowed their homes in Luzerne County.