Road trip, On President's Day 2006, to this former town in the Anthracite Coal Mining Region of Pennsylvania.

Centralia was founded in the 19th Century. It was devastated by a coal mine fire that started in 1962.
The fire followed mine tunnels under the town, as much as 200 feet deep.
Most of the town was demolished in the 1980s, after efforts failed (stifled by bureaucracy) to quench the fire.

The fire is still burning. It is expected to burn for at least the next several decades.

In case you are wondering, the fumes smell like a damp washrag laced with burning sulfur.

Google centralia if you are interested. There are several books on this, that are available.

There are descriptions provided with every image.

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