Travel underground to a real anthracite coal mine in the mountains surrounding the Wyoming Valley in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Located within McDade Park, this authentic coal mine experience includes a 250 foot trip underground. Afterward you’ll have a better understanding of the old song:
“You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt.” – Merle Travis
The King Coal Era
The Wyoming Valley is historically the world capital for anthracite coal. Anthracite coal burns hotter and cleaner than other coals. However, obtaining it usually required shaft and slope mining deep underground. Working conditions were hazardous and miners had very few rights. “King Coal” jobs brought immigrants to the region. They were searching for a better way of life. This caused a population boom in the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Eventually the hazardous working conditions and accidents such as the Knox Mine Disaster contributed to the demise of King Coal. Coal was replaced by oil and natural gas.
The Valley has seen the slow demolition of coal breakers and culm dump pits which for so long dotted the land. But this tour provides a brief glimpse into that era. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. This is a must see for anyone interested in history, geology, or engineering.
Coal Mine Tour
Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour – Scranton, PA – Google Maps
Check in at the box office. Tickets are currently $10 for adults, $7.50 for children. The mine is open April through November, Friday-Monday. Hours are short, about 10:00 am to 2:30 pm, plan accordingly.
While waiting for your mine tour to start, you can watch a short video about mining in the attached small theatre. There is also a small attached gift shop.
You will need to choose a hard hat for the tour, these are provided. There are smaller ones for children. Stop at the 13,000 lb chunk of anthracite on the way to the tour and take a selfie!
Tour starts by getting in the mantrip at the top of the hill. The mantrip is the shuttle used to transport miners to the mines. It is a caged metal yellow transport car, tightly fits maybe 25 people. It has low ceilings. This tour is not for those with claustrophobia!
From there your tour guide slowly eases you down the incline on Slope 190 into the mine.
The trip down takes about 5-10 min. Plenty of time to watch the sunny entrance slowly disappear into a faint dot before disappearing all together.
Once at the bottom, everyone disembarks from the mantrip and then follows the tour guide on foot.
Our guide was entertaining, funny, and knowledgeable. I usually hate guided tours, but this never felt boring or forced. There are multiple brief stops while walking the actual tunnels formerly used to mine coal up until the 1960’s.
The tour includes descriptions of the different mining jobs, mining techniques and tools, and of course the canary in the coal mine. Mannequins are set up to represent different miner jobs, foreman, nipper, mule boy, etc. Kids are shocked to learn that children as young as 5 were sometimes employed by the mines. It definitely highlights the foundations of the child labor laws movement. Explanations of miner rations, housing, the company store, and other financial barriers are enlightening to those who are unfamiliar with the history.
At the end of the tour, grab your mining certificate and pile back in to the mantrip. The ride up is a little faster, and fun. No joke, reemerging into the sunlight at the top can feel very emotional!
Spend some time touring the museum. Full of photos, artifacts, and maps of the hundreds of coal shafts in the area.
After your trip, grab some souvenirs.
Local Attractions:
If you have more time, consider walking the surrounding trails of McDade Park. This reclaimed mine land park offers wooded trails, a playground, athletic facilities, splash pad, and great views of the Valley. McDade Park
Consider extending the day and visiting the trains at the Steamtown National Historic Site – stay tuned for a future blog on this.
Not the best weather out? Consider the Scranton Aquarium –
Electric City Aquarium, Scranton, PA
TIPS:
Parking is free.
The tour is only appropriate for school aged children, not toddlers. No strollers allowed.
EVERYONE should use the restroom before starting the tour. There are no restrooms underground and you can’t leave early.
No large backpacks allowed into the mine.
The temperature below ground is always in the low 50’s. Additionally there is often a breeze from ventilation fans. Be sure to bring a sweatshirt and wear pants.
The trip lasts about 1 hour from beginning to the end.
Trips run about every hour but build in time before and after.
The mines are lit with electric lights the whole way. However those with vision difficulties will want to be extra cautious.
There are lower ceilings in some parts, anyone over 6 feet should be extra cautious while walking around.
Be prepared for the odor of an old basement, it is underground after all.
Sanitary hairnets are provided and encouraged for wearing under the hard hats. Although the hard hats are cleaned between wearers, the vast majority of visitors choose the extra hairnet protection.
Want to learn more about the end of the coal era in the Wyoming Valley? Consider this excellent locally produced documentary : Knox Mine Disaster DVD
Have you visited the coal mine tour? Would love to hear your thoughts!
kit@astrayfish.com
Unless otherwise stated, all photos throughout this blog are my own and cannot be printed or distributed without my permission.
Astray Fish 
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