Broad Top Area Coal Miners Historical Society

Theater and Meeting Complex

SOUTH MAIN ST, BOX 171, ROBERTSDALE, PA 16674

New Musuem: Church Street Robertsdale

Enjoy an exciting, unforgettable trip back into time and learn about the reign of King coal and the iron horse on the historic Broad Top Mountain.

For over a century immigrant miners toiled deep underground in the corners of Huntingdon, Bedford and Fulton counties in south-central Pennsylvania, fueling the financial prosperity of America;s industrial heritage. Until the mid 1950s when deep mining was replace by surface mining, The coal fields supported the birth of numerous mining towns, two transportation systems--the standard gauge Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain railroad and the narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad and a prosperous iron and coke-making industry. The Museum is a must see for people interested in the coal mining and railroad history of the area. Learn how the coal seams were formed million of years ago..experience the hardships of the miners and their families as they struggled to survive in the shadow of bituminous colleries..discover how the miners dug the"black diamonds" by hand, the types of tools they used and the ways the coal was brought to the surface, loaded onto railroad "hoppers" and shipped to market. View what remains of the mining industry today on historic district tours and follow the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Trail of history It's a learning experience for young and old, never to be forgotten.

WERE GROWING! WE HAVE ACQUIRED THE ABANDON ROBERTSDALE METHODIST CHURCH. LOOKING FOR GRANTS ETC. TO RAISE FUNDS. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE WILL BE APPRECIATED. SEE PRESS RELEASE AND PICTURE. WE HAVE COMPLETED MUCH WORK ON THE OLD CHURCH (ANNEX) AND WE HAVE BEGAN THE MOVE TO THE CHURCH. MOST OF THE EXHIBITS ARE NOW THERE AND JUST HAVE TO BE SET-UP. THE THEATER WILL CONTINUE AS A MEETING AREA AND THEATER

The new Museum is now open and we have extended our hours (see below). Shows at the Theater for the remainer of the year will be as follows:Aug 1st, Sept ??, Oct 24th, Nov 21st, and
Dec. 19th Doors open at 6:30pm with shows starting at 7pm. Watch the local papers and this site for who will be performing.

The Broad Top Area Coal Miners Historical Society purchased the Reality Theater in 1991 and opened it in 1992 as a museum and entertainment center. The Reality Theater was constructed in 1948 but closed just 10 years later. In 1968 the theater reopened but in 1986 it closed for good.. The museum which now fills the building interprets the history of the BroadTop area coal and railroad industries.

In 2005 the BroadTop Area Coal Miners Historical Society purchased theRobertsdale United Methodist Church building on Church Street in Robertsdale. The church was built in 1891 and used until 2004 by the Methodist congregation in Robertsdale. This building, scheduled to open in early May of 2008, will serve as the main museum building for the Society and the Reality Theater will become strictly an entertainment center. At the theater, films and historical interpretation will take place on a regular basis.

ONE OF THE FINEST MINING EXHIBITS IN THE AREA. BEEN THERE BEFORE? STOP BY AND SEE WHAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE AND EXHIBITS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED.

The Broad Top Area Coal Miners Historical Society is located in Robertsdale, Pa 10 miles from Saxton, Pa. on RT913.We are approx. 12 miles from Lake Raystown. The Society maintains a Coal Miners Museum and Entertainment Center in the Old Reality Theater pictured above. We are open Friday and Saturdays 10am-5pm and Sundays 1-5pm, April 1 through November 30th. We are also open by Special Appointment and Tours call 814-635-3807 (weekends) or 814-635-2013 (weekdays). The Museum houses Coal Mining and Railroading Exhibits, Research Library and Information Center, Coal Miners Memorial Plaque,and Gift shop. Membership in the Society is $20.00 for individual or $30.00 for Family and $15.00 for Seniors 65 and up. . Membership benefits include Unlimited free admission to the museum, use of research library and subscription to the Coal Miners Journal newsletter. Admission to Museum, for non- members is $5.00 for Adults; $3.00 for Childern. For further information send inquiry to E-mail address below.

The Society also maintains the historic Robertsdale Italian Cemetery, a project it assumed during the early 1990s. The cemetery was restored by the Robertsdale Lions Club in 1981-1982. Stop by and see the changes being made at the Cemetery. A new fence has just been put up and the Students at Tussey Mt. High School have made new markers and they have been installed. This has made the Cemetery a much better tribute to those buried there.

The Society is involved in numberous local, county, regional, state and federal activities ranging from historic preservation and educational endeavors to environmental activities and travel promotion efforts

An Invitation

Stop by or Drive by and see our new marquee. Due to some problems with vandalism we have had to put a protection door on the front of the Museum this will be pulled down when we are closed.

We are currently having a fund drive to do repairs on our old theater building. Any donations will be appreciated.

Broad Top area Miners Honor Roll

Do you have a relative or friend that worked in the East Broad Top Mine field. Honor them with a place on the Honor Roll with a $100.00 donation in their name.