Mount Washington in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

First Mining of Pittsburgh Coal

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, October 28, 2011

1. First Mining of Pittsburgh Coal Marker

Inscription. This State's bituminous coal industry was born about 1760 on Coal Hill, now Mount Washington. Here the Pittsburgh coal bed was mined to supply Fort Pitt. This was eventually to be judged the most valuable individual mineral deposit in the United States.

Erected 1985 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1760.

Location. 40° 26.065′ N, 80° 0.678′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in Mount Washington. It is on Grandview Avenue 0 miles west of Bertha Street, on the right when traveling west. Located across Grandview Avenue from St. Mary of the Mount Church, near the overlook. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pittsburgh PA 15211, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Mary of the Mount Church (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Mary's of the Mount Church Honor Roll (within shouting distance of this marker); Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Grace Episcopal Church

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(about 800 feet away); The Youth of the Leo Club of Grandview (approx. ¼ mile away); Mount Washington (approx. ¼ mile away); Enlightenment (approx. ¼ mile away); Commerce Court (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburgh.

Also see . . . Pittsburgh Coal Seam. Wikipedia article about Pittsburgh Coal. (Submitted on October 31, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, October 28, 2011

2. First Mining of Pittsburgh Coal Marker

Pittsburgh Coal Seam image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Wilbur G. Burroughs, March 14, 1914

3. Pittsburgh Coal Seam

"Map of the Horizon of the Pittsburgh Coal Bed in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio -- The Maryland deposit is excluded. It will be noted in the illustration that in West Virginia there is a line which shows where the Pittsburgh bed becomes thin and of little commercial value. While some of the deposits west of that line in Ohio are of considerable value, many are utterly valueless, and some are mere traces. In other places, the bed is missing and its horizon alone can be determined. As this is a map covering the horizon of the coal bed and not its actual presence, the profitable coal area, especially in Ohio and West Virginia, will be considerably smaller than that shown." Date 14 March 1914(1914-03-14) Source The Pittsburgh Coal Bed, Coal Age, Vol. 5, No. 11 (March 14, 1914); page 441.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,568 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 28, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on October 31, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.