What Lies Beneath The Streets Of This Pennsylvania Town Is Creepy Yet Amazing
We all know that coal mining was once a major industry in Pennsylvania, one that helped usher the Industrial Revolution into America— though rarely do we stop to consider the many miles of excavated tunnels that lie hundreds of feet beneath the surface of our state. After a visit to the Lackawanna Coal Mine, where you can take a tour, you’ll feel much more acquainted with our incredible local history.



Coal mining was dangerous, low-paid work and often led workers to suffer from chronic illnesses such as the black lung. The immigrant families whose husbands and fathers worked in the mines usually lived in squalid mining towns, while mine owners and operators built themselves mansions. What's more is that the operators would often foster tension among the various ethnicities, in order to prevent a revolt.

Here’s an old video to give you an idea of what this sort of environment looked like when the mines were open. This footage was taken of a coal mine in Scranton in December 1929.
Have you been to the Lackawanna Coal Mine— or do you know of any other mine tours in the area? Do you or one of your relatives have any stories from this chapter of our history? Please feel free to share, and thanks for reading!