“The horrors of war are upon us” | Eckley, PA reacts to Fort Sumter and the opening of the Civil War

“There is but one feeling expressed, and that is, the government must be sustained.” That line appeared in a letter written from Eckley, Pennsylvania just days after the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861. In the Coal Region, the news sparked a surge of patriotism as young men began volunteering for the US Army. Read the Full Story and Letter.

Church of the Immaculate Conception | Eckley, PA

Inside the Catholic Church at Eckley Miners' Village in Luzerne County, PA

Step inside Eckley’s 1861 Church of the Immaculate Conception - built for Irish Catholic mineworkers and later deconsecrated, then immortalized in the film, The Molly Maguires. Today, it stands restored as part of Eckley Miners’ Village, a testament to faith and community in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region. Read the full story.

Exploring Eckley Miners’ Village | Coal Region History

Jake Wynn - Public Historian at Eckley Miners' Village in Eckley Pennsylvania Coal Region history

Explore Eckley Miners’ Village in Luzerne County We stepped back in time at this preserved 1850s patch town - the filming site of "The Molly Maguires" – and learned more about patch towns in the Coal Region. Read the full story of our visit and how you can plan your own trip.