Memory and Relevance: Local History and Outreach at Eckley Miners’ Village

Eckley Miners’ Village in Luzerne County, PA is a living history museum that holds significance for many residents of the surrounding area. Preserving and interpreting the homes and buildings that once made up an anthracite coal mining patch town, the site retains ties to many in the area who either lived in Eckley or are related to people who lived in Eckley. However, since 2000 the population demographics of Luzerne County have changed drastically. As the population changes, the ways the public perceives the relevance and value of local history stand to change as well. Utilizing archaeology for new interpretations of local history, and as an outreach method, the Anthracite Heritage Program provides a case study of local history sites adapting to shifting population bases and working to incorporate non-descendant groups into the preservation of local histories.