This 1862 illustration captures the coal mines at Bear Gap during the Civil War, showing how industry, railroads, and labor shaped northern Dauphin County at a pivotal moment. For me, it brings a familiar landscape back to life as it once was. Read the full story.
An 1898 magazine sketch shows the breaker at Lattimer, the very colliery the striking miners were marching toward when sheriff’s deputies opened fire in September 1897. Read the full story.
Travel back to 1863 Scranton through a striking Harper’s illustration revealing its smoky ironworks, bustling railroads, and crowded immigrant shanties as it powered the Union war machine in the Civil War. The contrast between humble huts and wealthy homes illustrates gritty industrial life and class divide in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region in the 19th century. Read the full story.
This 1840 sketch reveals a bustling town fueled by newly tapped anthracite reserves. Witness Pottsville’s rapid expansion as it transforms into a major economic force in Schuylkill County. Read the full story.
This rare etching by John Rubens Smith offers a glimpse of Pottsville before it exploded into an industrial hub. Discover how the Schuylkill Canal, emerging railroads, and booming anthracite mines transformed this once-quiet valley into a pivotal Coal Region center. Read the full story.
A Rowdy Serenade in the Coal Region Discover a centuries-old tradition in Pennsylvania’s anthracite region, as depicted in an 1876 Frank Leslie’s illustration. A rowdy horse-fiddle serenade reveals the vibrant social life of coal miners and fresh insights into mineworkers' culture. Read the full story.
A lunch scene in the coal mines of Northeastern Pennsylvania was depicted in an 1873 edition of Harper's Weekly Magazine.
This image from Schuylkill County is among the new additions to the Wynning History image collection.
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.
A travel writer vividly described Pottsville and the surrounding region of Schuylkill County in 1852.