We have the Jeep again!!! Best. News. Ever. When Alex and I moved to New York, we decided to not bring the car. We quickly realized what we were missing, and how important spontaneous road trips were to us. They’re the perfect chance to see nature and learn more about where we live.
Alex drove the car up over the holidays, and we took advantage straightaway. Two weeks ago, we got the itch again and ventured out to Pennsylvania to explore a toxic ghost town.
I’m talking about Centralia, PA: the coal mining town that caught fire in 1962 and has been burning ever since. The history behind this small town is wild, and I highly recommend this documentary and this RadioLab feature.
In the meantime, see below for a taste of snowy Centralia. Enjoy!
Exploring Centralia, PA: Toxic Ghost Town
These are big, big piles of coal. Don’t they look magical, all covered in snow?
These are the remains of a shut down coal processing facility, taken on our way into Centralia. A part of me wished that it wasn’t surrounded by “No Trespassing” signs, but the other part realized blown out coal mines get creepy fast.
This is the Graffiti Highway. The underground fire that eventually consumed the town warped a stretch of highway in the process, so it was eventually shuttered and covered in graffiti. It snowed the night before we arrived, so unfortunately we couldn’t see the full effect. But I did really enjoy how the colorful graffiti peeked through the snow, so I guess it worked out. 🙂
The fire caused this giant gash in the ground, and several more like it over the highway. It was so crazy to imagine this ever being a smooth road.
…this too.
I’m already brainstorming other places to explore in the coming months. Throw any and all suggestions my way!
xo,
T
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