Today it's a tourist destination where bright, happy smiles supplant yesterday's weary, coal-blackened faces of the industry that built America.

The No. 9 Mine is a reflection of changing times and the sentiment of people who cherish their lineage.It all started with a place called The Old Mine, an 1819 coal quarry in the Summit Hill area.By 1822, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company set its eyes on the Mammoth Vein, the most important of all anthracite coal deposits.Coal was becoming a big deal, in part owing to businessmen Josiah White and Erskine Hazard, who believed in coal's potential as early as 1814.They promoted and marketed the black diamonds, leading to the building of the Lehigh Canal system, the first gravity railroad and the development of rich coal deposits from Tamaqua and Mauch Chunk.According to historical accounts, plans for the No. 9 Mine were on the drawing board about 1845.And it was a good thing because, in 1849, the large quarry in Summit Hill flooded. At the time, operators didn't have high-volume pumps to remove the water and keep the quarry operable.The entire operation had to be abandoned.So engineers decided to drive a tunnel in the Mammoth Vein on level with the bottom of the Panther Creek Valley, choosing a spot in Lansford. The mine actually enters Coaldale, as well, touching both Carbon and Schuylkill counties.It was a gamble.In fact, two attempts to bore into the ground in 1851 and 1853 were unsuccessful. But perseverance paid off.Work ethicCarbon County Commissioner Bill O'Gurek said driving the tunnel reflected determination and strong work ethic."A hard-working population deservedly earned its place in America thanks, in a huge part, to the persistence in developing the No. 9 Mine 160 years ago, a task that took about 10 years from the time of its conception until the tunnel became a reality," O'Gurek said.It was accomplished in steps, according to historical accounts.On Jan. 14, 1852, a proposal for production was accepted from Daniel Bertsch, who drove the tunnel 166 lineal yards at a cost of $6,228.74.The mine was opened in 1855, but the move forward continued.Miners reached the Mammoth Vein on Christmas Day 1857, driving a total of 2,283 feet and helping Bertsch fulfill the first contract.A thankful Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. later named a street in Lansford in honor of Bertsch.At the Old Fashioned Miner's Memorial Day Picnic on May 24, O'Gurek said the role of the No. 9 Mine and of coal in general is essential to the country."After coal was discovered in 1791 in Summit Hill, it had a significant effect on generations of families in both the United States and abroad, gave rise to the American Industrial Revolution, and even played a part in winning two world wars."In fact, O'Gurek credits the success of coal and railroad for planting the seeds of the region's present-day population base."It led to immigration of many nationalities, including English, Welsh, Irish, German, Polish, Slovak, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Italian, Russian and Lithuanian. The influence of these immigrant populations is still felt strongly and proudly in the region."Coal is the reason many area towns sprouted. It's the reason Bethlehem Steel became an international industrial force," O'Gurek said.That sentiment is echoed by photographer Scott Herring of Hellertown. The Tamaqua native dedicated 40 years to documenting "Anthracite America" in honor of the "monumental men and women of the hard coal region who mine the coal, run the trains, make the steel and build the America we represent."Tourist havenFor visitors, the No. 9 Mine is all about family heritage.Many say it's special because it's a tangible tie to their ancestors."My grandfather worked at a nearby breaker," said Nancy Giovanna of Lakehurst, New Jersey. "I'm here to remember him."Another visitor had a similar story."My grandfather operated a family mine in Marion Heights," said John Poponiak of Shamokin.Turnout at the picnic was so strong that crowded mine tours ran all day long."We had to cut the tours to one half-hour," said Dave Kuchta, president of Panther Creek Valley Foundation."We had to put on another tour guide. We might have three tours in there at one time," Kuchta said.Gaining momentum, the No. 9 Mine and Museum Heritage Festival on July 12 drew more guests to the site.An Old Fashioned Miner's Labor Day Picnic on Sept. 6 will further honor the 160th anniversary of the big gamble that paid off.O'Gurek sees it as an acknowledgment of determination."We should say thanks to those who never gave up when tunneling to the coal deposits 160 years ago seemed unattainable and to the men and women today who give of their time and effort on a regular basis to make sure this particular part of the building of America continues to have its place in our heralded history."The No. 9 is more than a story about a mine tunnel; it's about greatness that can be achieved when people don't give up.It's the story of our courageous, hardworking ancestors, and therefore, the story of us.