Gain a new appreciation for the backbreaking work that coal workers did every day, including digging for coal with a simple pick then shoveling it into a nearby cart. Tours of this old coal mine in Pittsburgh provide a glimpse into the lives of the coal miners who helped keep the mine operating for decades.
Travel to Tour-Ed Coal Mine and Museum, only 20 miles from downtown Pittsburgh where you'll put on a hardhat and get a close-up look at a former working mine.
Dating back to the 1850s, Tour-Ed Coal Mine was originally called the Avenue Mine. Its workers undertook intense labor to mine coal that was used by area companies, such as Allegheny Steel, and shuttled to all areas of the United States.
For more than four decades, the Tour-Ed Mine has been run as a museum that includes a trip into the mine itself. The map above illustrates the many exhibits you can explore when you visit the old coal mine.
Go underground at Tour-Ed Coal Mine, which is regularly inspected to ensure its safety for visitors. You'll be led by seasoned coal miners. Tour guides perform demonstrations to give visitors an authentic view of the mining process. The tour lasts approximately half an hour and museum officials recommend bringing a jacket or a sweater as the temperature consistently hovers between 52 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit all year.
Put your hardhat on and climb aboard an authentic coal car for your journey underground. The coal car will take you approximately a half of a mile underground as you experience the momentary darkness of the coal mine when it's not illuminated by light.
Stop by the Tour-Ed Museum after you emerge from the underground. The museum, designed as a replica of a coal miner's home back in the 1850s, features original mining tools and other historical artifacts.
End your tour with a stop at the Souvenir Shop that sells such items as hard hats and pieces of coal. Snacks and drinks are also available.
Tour an authentic old coal mine in Pittsburgh when you visit Tour-Ed Coal Mine and Museum. Try another authentic experience aboard the Kiski Rail Junction. Click here to learn more.
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