No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum, Lansford, PA

April 26, 2025

On Thursday we went to the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum for a tour into the mine.  First a little history of the mine from their website.

"The No. 9 Coal Mine, nestled in the Panther Valley, holds a significant place in history as the longest continuously operated deep Anthracite coal mine in the world. Established in 1855 by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, the mine was strategically developed to access the rich Mammoth Vein of Anthracite coal. Unlike the earlier mines in nearby Summit Hill, which struggled with increasing groundwater levels, the No. 9 Mine was driven at a lower elevation, allowing groundwater to naturally drain from the mine portal without the need for pumps. By 1857, the mine had reached its first vein of coal, and by the following year, it was contracted to produce an impressive 90,000 tons of Anthracite coal annually.

The No. 9 Mine operated continuously from 1855 until June 22, 1972. After its closure, the mine remained abandoned until 1992, when a dedicated group of locals, passionate about preserving the region’s coal mining heritage, took control of the property. This non-profit organization, now known as the Panther Creek Valley Foundation, has transformed the No. 9 Mine into a museum that honors the legacy of the coal miners who worked there. Restoration of the mine began in 1995, and the first tours commenced in 2002.

Today, visitors can embark on an immersive journey into the past. The experience begins with a 1,600-foot rail ride into the mountain, followed by a 600-foot guided walking tour. Along the way, visitors can explore the original 700-foot deep mine shaft, walk the historic “mule-way,” where young men once guided mules between different levels of the mine, and visit a miner’s hospital cut into solid rock."

 

Engine and coal cars

The mine ran from 1855 to 1972, but renovations and updating were done in 1931.

We rode on the rails in old rusty cars where you couldn't stand up 1600' into the mine.  It was not as light as these pictures show because I used night vision on my phone.  As you can see, it was very wet and muddy.  The temperature in the mine never goes above 50 degrees.

One of the side shafts.

The elevator that went down to levels two, three and four. Levels three and four are now flooded.  The elevator carried people, coal cars, and anything that went down to the mine.  Notice there are no railings; the miners would hold on to the handles hanging down from the ceiling, or hood.  The hood was to keep anything falling on the miners from above.

This shuttle motor moved the cars left to right to line up with the elevator.

Ore car

View of the elevator from the other side.

Another mine tunnel.  There are several miles of tunnels.

For many years if a worker was injured or killed in the mines they would stay down there until the end of the shift.  They worked 10 hour shifts, so if they got injured in the first hour and broke a leg they would have to wait another nine hours to get help.  Although the lighting is barely good now, the only light they had then was from their headlamps, which wasn't much.  It was cold, dark, and muddy down there, and your buddies would leave you somewhere out of the way. I can't imagine having to wait for hours in the dark to be able to leave the mine and get treatment.  Eventually they got this 'hospital' which was used to treat the miners before the end of the shift.  Our tour guide said it was painted white and kept very clean.  There weren't any doctors at this hospital though, so someone that had been trained by the doctor would be the one to help the miners.

This was a ventilation shaft in the roof of the mine.
Near the floor of the mine there was dark gas (C02), which was not combustible.  Near the roof of the mine was methane, which is combustible. The miners used to carry little lamps with them to test the air.  If the flame went out they knew to get out of the mine.  Also there were rats in the mine, which they took care of and fed.  They knew if all the rats were heading for the exit they'd better follow fast.  Being a miner was tremendously hard work, for which they got little pay.  They were permanently hunched over from the work and many died of lung diseases.  There were boys as young as 7 working down there, taking care of the mules and leading them through the mine.  The youngest child to die was 15.  If the miner was killed the family had 24-48 hours to get out of their house.  It was a rough life for sure.

It was a really good tour and I'm glad we did it.  Once was enough for me but John said he would go again.

Our next adventure will take us a place that everyone will recognize when we're...

Roving on...

For this is what the LORD says, He who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and not create if as a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited): "I am the LORD, and there is no one else."  Isaiah 45:1