The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) has begun a planning process to develop a creative strategy for the future of Eckley Miners' Village in Luzerne County. Eckley is an authentic 19th-century coal patch town representing the rise and decline of anthracite. The 1854 town plan remains largely intact with 60 primary buildings and another 50+ outbuildings and related structures encompassing 100 acres.
PHMC hired a consultant team led by Urban Partners to create a new business model for the management and operation of Eckley Miners' Village. The comprehensive three-year strategic plan will create a long-term vision for Eckley, preserve and strengthen Eckley through strategic investments that advance economic opportunities, outline organizational objectives in key program areas, and seek a competitive solution for the site that involves self-sustaining and revenue-generating alternatives. The result will be realistic recommendations for Eckley that address the vision of local stakeholders while preserving the historic character of the Village.