When Did Americans Start Using Fossil Fuel?
The nineteenth-century establishment of mid-Atlantic coal mines and canals gave America its first taste of abundant fossil fuel energy.
How LGBTQ Groups Supported Striking Miners vs. Thatcher
During a national miners strike, LGBT activists became unexpected allies, united against the Thatcher government.
The Princes of Saxony Collected These Kitschy Miniature Mountains
Struck with “Berggeschrey,” or “mountain clamour,” early modern nobles of Saxony dolled up the dirty and dangerous work of the mines with gold and glitter.
The Tragedy at Buffalo Creek
The historic Buffalo Creek flood tore through a region often exploited by industry—and stereotyped by outsiders.
Remembering the Disaster at Hawks Nest
Hundreds of miners, mostly African American men, died from an entirely preventable industrial catastrophe.
The Potential Pros and Cons of Seabed Mining
Concentrations of iron manganese nuggets and other metals in the deep seabed have stirred up interest in mining. But at what cost?
The Man Who Tried to Claim the Grand Canyon
Ralph H. Cameron staked mining claims around the Grand Canyon, seeking to privatize it. When the federal government fought back, he ran for Senate.
The Militant Miners Who Exposed the Horrors of Black Lung
This grassroots movement brought occupational health to American labor, paving the way for the creation of OSHA.
Sand? Mine!
Orca Quarry in British Columbia is one of a handful of mines feeding the nearly insatiable desire for sand and gravel in major West Coast cities.
What Red Light Ladies Reveal About the American West
Prostitution and sex work are useful metric for historians seeking insight into the American West.