A 1982 PBS documentary reveals how a routine trash-burning ignited an unstoppable mine fire beneath Centralia, Pennsylvania. Witness the fierce debates over the town’s future, the heartache of evacuations, and the haunting remnants that remain. Read the full story.
Newspaper editor Benjamin Bannan implored the US Army be used to put down labor organization in the Coal Region during the Civil War.
An August 1962 news report documents the early efforts to squelch an escalating mine fire at Centralia, Pennsylvania.
A look at some of the responses to our post about Centralia and its possible future
Discover why Centralia, Pennsylvania—an abandoned town with an ongoing mine fire—should be viewed as a historic site. Explore how its unique story can teach the environmental and social history of the Coal Region and consider its potential for heritage tourism. Read the full story.