The Mining Experience
Working in the Coal Mine
From Pick & Shovel to Hydraulic Machine
From Pick & Shovel to Hydraulic Machine
At Tour-Ed Mine, you won't just hear about coal mining — you'll see it. Your guides are real coal miners who demonstrate how coal was dug by hand in the 1850s and how powerful hydraulic machines dig it today. It's a hands-on history lesson 160 feet below the earth's surface.
In the 1800s, miners dug coal by pick and shovel and loaded it into a cart next to them. The miner would attach a brass tag with his identifying number on the cart, then the mule pulled the cart loaded with coal to the top of the mine to be weighed.
Miners were usually paid by the ton in company scrip, which could only be spent at the company store. It was grueling, dangerous work — and the only way many families in Western Pennsylvania made a living.
Who turned out the lights? During your tour, you'll experience what it is like to be in a coal mine with no light at all. Don't panic! It's only for a moment — but it's an unforgettable one.
Early miners relied on open-flame oil lamps attached to their caps. One wrong move near a pocket of methane gas could be catastrophic. Today, modern miners use battery-powered cap lamps and sophisticated ventilation systems — but the darkness underground hasn't changed one bit.
See the actual tools miners used — from the simple pick and shovel of the 1850s to the massive hydraulic continuous mining machines used today. Your guide will demonstrate how each tool was used and explain how technology transformed one of the world's most dangerous jobs.
Put on your authentic Tour-Ed Mine hard hat and climb into a real coal mine car for a half-mile journey into a mining experience you'll never forget. You'll travel the same rails that carried coal and miners for over a century.
One of the highlights of your tour is watching real mining equipment operate underground. Your guide — a real coal miner — will fire up the machines and show you exactly how coal is extracted today.
From the roar of the continuous miner to the rattle of the conveyor belt, it's a sensory experience that brings the history of coal mining to life in a way no textbook ever could.
Advance reservations required. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day.