Step Back In Time

A Region With a Past

The history of Luzerne County is vast and storied and has connections the world over. What started out as Indigenous land, the Wyoming Valley and surrounding areas were occupied by European settlers in the mid-18th century. One of the most influential and lasting parts of Luzerne County history is the discovery of anthracite coal in the early 19th century. From the miners to the coal barons, the “black diamonds” influenced every part of life here until mining ceased. The site of major battles throughout the decades, home to the farms that fed George Washington’s armies, major exporter of anthracite coal to the rest of the United States, and birthplace of Mr. Peanut and HBO, Luzerne County’s historical significance cannot be understated. Join us near Halloween for spooky walking tours of some of Wilkes-Barre’s haunted locales. Stop by in July and take part in a commemorative ceremony of the Battle of Wyoming. Spend the day in Eckley Miners’ Village and immerse yourself in the lives of the coal miners who called this area home. Follow the history of Luzerne County with a tour of the beautiful Luzerne County Courthouse and its detailed mosaics.