HISTORY MINING BOOM & OIL RUSH Integral to fueling the Industrial Revolution, PA’s coal production topped the nation in the 19th century. On a Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour in Scranton, a mine car transports visitors 300 feet below ground into the dark, chilly world where miners (including children) toiled in winding rock tunnels. A guide ushers groups on a walking tour while explaining the methods and operations of the often-perilous profession. In Ashland, the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine journeys 400 feet below the earth and 1,800 feet into the side of Mahanoy Mountain. Complement the underground jaunt with a narrow-gauge Steam Train Tour that affords views of an enormous surface (aka strip mining) site. At the free-admission Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, its Mining Museum offers an informative film and fascinating displays. Expansive outdoor exhibits at the Drake Well Museum and Park in Titusville include a full-size replica of Edwin L. Drake’s first-in-America commercial oil well from 1859. Multi-sensory experiences indoors examine how varying aspects of the petroleum industry impact life. FROM TOP: G. WIDMAN FOR VISIT PHILADELPHIA®; OIL REGION ALLIANCE OF BUSINESS, INDUSTRY & TOURISM Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia Drake Well Museum and Park, Titusville visitpa.com 25
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Travel Guide 2025: Page 25
