Burning Ghost Town

A coal mine began to burn under the town of Centralia, Pennsylvania (Pop 2,500) in the 1960s. It is expected to stop smouldering around 250 years from now. The population has fallen to around ten, and about four of its houses still stand.

This scene is what's left of the main intersection at the town's center. Think: movie house, grocery market, Post Office, church. Good morning, Mrs. M!

This has been the highlight, yet the strangest part, of a long and interesting day. The Molly Maguires were once very active here, as though the mine fire was not enough history.

Read more about the death of Centralia here.