Preserving and honoring the railroad and industrial history of the United States is crucial. In Pennsylvania, countless individuals—ranging from adults to children—dedicated their lives to the mining industry, extracting "black diamonds" (coal) that powered the world. Tragically, many of them either endured unimaginable hardships, lost their lives, or had their health ruined in the process, both above and underground. Today, only fragments of their lives and legacies remain. The once-thriving mines are abandoned and collapsing, the towns have largely disappeared, and the grim accidents that claimed nearly 100,000 lives between the 1800s and the 1920s are often forgotten. Many of these fatalities likely went unreported unless they involved large-scale disasters.

Some of the worst bituminous coal mining tragedies occurred in the Pittsburgh-Fairmont region. Notable disasters include the Darr Mine in Van Meter, Pennsylvania, located along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail, and the Monongah Mines in Monongah, West Virginia, now marked by a rail bed-turned-side street. These sites serve as somber reminders of the sacrifices made by miners of the time and the role they played in our history.

I enjoy collecting old maps of areas I explore, comparing them to what remains today. It’s a meaningful way to connect with history and remind others of how these structures came to be and the immense hardships endured by those who built them. Reflecting on these stories also serves as a stark reminder of how much better conditions are today compared to the struggles of the past.

The image above showcases a section of a mine map from the Youghiogheny Valley, a region marked by numerous recorded mining disasters and untold hardships that may have unfolded over time.