Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour

Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, PA 18504, USA

Address:	Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, PA 18504, USA
Phone:	+1 800-238-7245
Site:	lackawannacounty.org
Rating:	4.6
Working:	10AM–3PM 10AM–3PM 10AM–3PM 10AM–3PM 10AM–3PM 10AM–3PM 10AM–3PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 14

Natali Morris

This is a really unique experience! Although I warn you: If you are claustrophobic, be warned! You actually ride in a small coal cart with about 30 strangers 5 minutes down into a mine 350 feet underground and then you stay there for an hour. I wont pretend I wasnt nervous and so were my kids, ages 4 and 6. But Im really glad we did this! The guide was friendly and sincere and very knowledgable about the coal business and history. The tunnels were well kept and the mannequins that they had set up to show you the working conditions were well placed and illustrative. The museum and guide shop was clean, modern, and well staffed. It doesnt feel like an old and dated place to visit at all. I learned a lot and was humbled by the experience. Im so glad we did this! If you plan to do this, plan an hour for the tour and maybe a little extra time to look around. Also bring sweaters because it is pretty chilly in the mines. And wear good shoes because it can be slippery too.

Wayne Schulz

Stopped by here on the way back from Scanton college tour. Im glad we did. Paid $10 for what seemed like about 1.5 hour tour. They take you down (about 25-30 people) in a "mining" car and the guide walks you through the mines explaining how it was done. The tour is fairly slow paced so you can take lots of pictures. On the day we were there the surface temperature was 90 and when we got out in the mine the temperature was about 55. You may want to bring a jacked. I think this was a great value for the money and it was very interesting to be down in what was an actual mine. This may not hold the attention of very small children though elementary level kids who want are curious about mines should be interested. Check on the times that the trips leave because if you miss one of the departures there may be a lengthy wait for the next. This is a must do if youve ever been curious what its like in a mine.

Kata Crea

There is not really any set time schedule for tours. The first tour can start as early as 10 am depending on visitors and the latest is about 2 to 2.45 pm. We got there early and checked out the displays and buildings outside. We were on the 1st wagon in at around 10.25 am. Be prepared and bring a jacket. It is 53 degrees inside and also bring walking shoes you dont mind to get some coal dust on. We loved the tour itself and the exhibits are exiting. The tour lasts about 45 minuted depending on how many questions are asked. Our guide was a senior and spoke softly and quick. We did not hear everything what was said.

Stefanie Armour

We did the tour on April 2, the second day the tour was open for the 2016 season. It was wonderful. We learned so much and everyone from the 7 year old to the 67 year old grandparents and the teen, preteen and parents in between throughly enjoyed the tour. Our tour guide, Bob Davis, was phenomenal. He gave so much information, but made it fun so you didnt ever realize you were learning. ;) The ladies in the gift shop were sweet. I would recommend this tour for all ages. A must-see in Lackawanna.

Vaibhav Bhosale

After 6 years or stay in Clarks Summit visited Coal Mine Tour for the first time and absolutely loved it. Person at ticket counter was very generous and even if we reached at 2.50 pm she allowed us and other group to go on last tour of the day. She even offered us jackets as its always 53 degrees in coal mine. Our tour guide was awesome and he shared a lot of information and history of coal mining. This is must visit attraction if you are visiting Scranton or Lackawanna county.

Jeremy Schultz

Dont base your plans on visiting. I drove about two hours, arriving when they opened at 10, to find the first tour not leaving until eleven. But, if I bought a ticket, and left the parking area, the tour could fill up and Id lose my spot. Theyd dont offer set tour times, just "about every hour", which is poor customer service for people traveling distances. I imagine the tour is fine, replete with interesting stories. Shame its managed so poorly that I wont know

Mark Boeckel

I took my family here and was glad I did. We almost didnt go due to the cost of taking a family of 7 down into the mine, but we learned so much during this active exhibit. The tour guide, Lou, was awesome. He took time to answer questions and gave out a lot of useful information about life in the mines. The only drawback is that my kids wont stop singing "16 Tons", a song that Lou introduced them to. We made a lot of great memories visiting this place.

Cheryl Herron

This was very interesting. I knew little of anthracite and coal mining in this area before. The gentleman who recommended that visitors sit on one of the benches in the coal car on the return trip is absolutely correct. I had to sit in the middle because I was one of the last to get back to the car and when they increased the speed out of the mine, I ended up on the muddy floor because there is nothing to hold onto.

Harold McClendon

This was a great tour. It is best to have a jacket. There is a car that takes you down into the mine. Make certain to sit on on of the two rows at the front or back of the car. If you sit in the middle it is difficult to hold onto your spot and it is a very uncomfortable ride. Be sure to bring a camera and ask lots of questions. You will develop a real application for the coal miners.

Luke Bergey

We took our children and parents (3 generations) there for a field trip and are so thankful we did! Very educational about the tough life of coal miners, PA and USA history, and learning about the tragedy that closed the Lackawanna Coal industry in the 1950s! I learned so much! Highly recommend it! I suggest it for kids 6 years and older.

Andrea Tursi

I had great uncles in Plymouth who came home from the mines covered in coal dust, carrying lunch pails. I was a teen in the 70s and when we would visit from southern NJ it seemed like we went back in time. Relatives who still cooked on coal stoves! This tour is an important representation of the hard labors associated with mining.

A Private User

Went on the coalmine tour for the 1st time in 20 yrs. It was great! Very informative our guide Robert was very knowledgeable. He had a great sense of humor for the kids too. It wasnt too long and you got a good sense of how these miners and children used to work in rough conditions for very little pay. I would recommend this tour.

SD70ACeofspades

Great place to visit and step back into history! Our tour guide was the new foreman, who was very helpful in answering our questions and explaining details about the mine. Admission for adults is $10, and lasts about an hour. For the experience of the mine at 300ft below the surface, it is well worth it!

Maddie Bartel

A close up look of the conditions in which my dear dad worked ,at age 9...heart-breaking!) along side his father in the PA coal mines. Our tour guide was super! The film shown before our decent into the mine was excellent....a real education!