The 12th Anniversary of the Quecreek Mine Rescue in Somerset County will be remembered on July 26 starting at 10:00 a.m. with a flag raising ceremony followed by a family-style picnic at the Quecreek Visitors Center at 151 Haupt Road, Somerset, operated by the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation.
New displays in the Visitors Center will be opened for the first time showing coal mining and rescue artifacts donated by the Rosebud Mining Company from the former Windber Coal Heritage Center.
On July 24, 2002 coal miners broke through into an abandoned, water-filled mine flooding the Quecreek Mine with over 150 million gallons of water. Nine miners scrambled to safety, but nine were trapped in a pocket of air in the dark, cold, water filled mine. They were rescued four days later through the combined efforts of state and federal mine rescue agencies and hundreds of workers and volunteers.
A video produced by the Commonwealth Media Services, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2003 documented the decisions made step-by-step during the rescue effort.
Click Here to watch the video.
The Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that relies on support from the public to educate the public about the rescue and to maintain and operate the mine rescue area and a visitors center.
Contact the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation or make a donation by writing: 151 Haupt Road, Somerset, PA 15501, calling 814-445-4876.
NewsClip: 12th Anniversary Of Quecreek Mine Rescue To Showcase New Exhibits