If you’re looking for an interesting and educational day trip, be sure to visit the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum in Pennsylvania! This unique attraction is located in the heart of the coal region and offers visitors a chance to learn about the history of coal mining in America. Located right in the heart of Pennsylvania Coal Country, the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum is an opportunity to see how coal was mined in the past and to get an up-close look at a real former operating coal mine.

No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum

The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company began operating the No. 9 Coal Mine in 1855. In the Panther Valley, mining operations were primarily focused on a big vein of Anthracite coal known as the Mammoth Vein. The first mines in the area were established in Summit Hill, just above Lansford.

The coal seams in Summit Hill, which were located hundreds of feet below the surface and geologically complex, required innovative methods to be used to excavate them. The No. 9 Mine is driven at a much lower level than the mines in Summit Hill. Because the tunnel was being dug, groundwater naturally drained out of the mine entrance without the need for pumps.

By the end of 1857, the passage had been driven far enough into the mountain to reach the first vein of coal. In 1858, the No. 9 Mine was engaged to produce 90,000 tons of Anthracite coal for the company. The No. 9 mine ran from 1855 until June 22, 1972, making it the world’s longest continuously operational deep Anthracite coal mine.

The abandoned No. 9 Mine was eventually reclaimed by a local organization intent on preserving the region’s coal mining history and reopened in 1992 as the Panther Creek Valley Foundation. The No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum is now run by the Panther Creek Valley Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the area’s coal mining heritage. Restoration work began in 1995 and the first tours of the mine were given in 2002.

Visitors to the mine ride a 1,600-foot railway into the mountain before taking part in a 600-foot guided tour. Visitors can see the original 700-foot deep mine shaft, traverse the “mule-way” (where young men guided the mules between the different levels of the mine), and inspect a miner’s hospital cut into solid rock. When you see the hazardous circumstances in which men and young boys worked on a daily basis, it’s clear why having a hospital on-site was critical.

In addition to the coal mine, you’ll also find the No. 9 Museum on the grounds, which is housed in the No.9 Mine’s original “Wash Shanty” that was built before WWI.

The museum houses the greatest number of mining artifacts in the region. The many items on exhibit include mining supplies, blasting equipment, household goods, and more that belonged to the workers who worked at the No. 9 Mine. There are also lots of documents, books, and photographs related to the history of coal mining in the area in the museum area.

The No. Coal Mine & Museum is open from April through November. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for children ages four to twelve. Children under the age of three are free. Tours are given every hour on the hour from 11 am – 3 pm.

The last tour leaves at three o’clock in the afternoon. For more information, you can visit their website or give them a call at (570)645-7074. So if you’re looking for an interesting day trip this summer, be sure to check out the No. Coal Mine & Museum!

For more information on their operating hours, visit the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum online: https://no9minemuseum.wixsite.com/museum or call (570)-645-7074

To learn even more about the history of Anthracite in the region, you may also want to visit the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum.