In 1965, photographer Jack Delano looked back on the many months he spent living in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region during the Great Depression, documenting abandoned mines, bootleggers, and families hanging on by a thread. His words add new depth to the images many of us know so well. Read the Full Story.
This 1860s photograph captures mining operations at Bear Gap, where men, mules, and machines pulled anthracite from deep underground. It’ offers a look at how coal shaped daily life in Wiconisco Township during the Civil War era. Read the full story.
In June 1979, cars lined up for blocks at gas stations near Pottsville, PA as fuel shortages spread across the nation. Drivers waited for their assigned day under the odd-even rationing system. This photograph captures the frustration and uncertainty of the 1970s energy crisis. Read the Full Story.
Taken in the late 1860s or early 1870s, this rare photograph looks across Pottsville at a city in transition—before its skyline fully took shape. From Coal Street, familiar landmarks reveal how power, industry, and ambition shaped the town we know today. Read the full story.
A single photograph from the 1920s captures a mine rescue team standing at the mouth of Big Lick Tunnel – and, just behind them, the old “plane” that once hauled coal cars up Big Lick Mountain toward the Williamstown breaker. Today, only ruins remain on the hillside, but this image offers a sharp glimpse back at the days when the colliery dominated Williams Valley. Read the full story.
In 1911, activist Lewis Hine found 13-year-old Willie Brieden working as a nipper 500 feet underground in Pittston, PA - alone in the dark, opening heavy doors as gas hissed nearby. Days later, Willie was home sick, coughing from endless hours in the damp mine. A childhood bent to anthracite's demands, captured in one image. Read the full story.
Journey back to 1910 Pottsville with this rare postcard of the Morris Building - home to the historic Dives, Pomeroy, & Stewart department store and Gowen Post #23 of the Grand Army of the Republic. Captured during a women’s event at the corner of Mahantango and Centre streets. Read more of the story.
Check out a rare early-20th-century snapshot of the Kehley Run Colliery UMWA band in Shenandoah, where future Big Band legends Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey first learn to play. This remarkable union band photo captures a fascinating moment in labor and musical history. Read the full story
In this 1864 photo, the USS Canonicus ironclad refuels with anthracite coal, the almost-smokeless fuel from Pennsylvania’s Coal Region that powered the Union blockade during the Civil War. Discover how this vital resource helped shape naval strategy and fueled dramatic changes across Northeastern Pennsylvania. Read the full story.
A 1942 photo captures a coal miner’s joy as he collects his paycheck in West Pittston, PA during World War II. Learn how miners balanced booming wartime demand with labor strikes, Federal seizure of mines, and a landmark UMWA settlement in 1943. Read the full story.