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| Name | Street Address | City | State | Historical Notes | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Arsenal Explosion Monument | Allegheny Cemetery on Butler St. | Pittsburgh | PA | Memorializes the 43 girls buried here who were killed in the arsenal explosion nearby on Sept. 17, 1862. A total of 75 workers died in the explosion, making it the worst industrial accident associated with the Civil War. | Monument replaces an earlier marble obelisk. |
| American Federation of Labor Founding, State Historical Marker | Mellon Park, NW corner opposite the site of historic Turner Hall, now William Penn Hotel | Pittsburgh | PA | On Nov. 14, 1881, trade unions formed the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Organizations, later becoming the AFL. Under the leadership of Samuel Gompers and Peter McGuire, the AFL became the most influential labor organization in the nation. | One of three markers dedicated during the first convention of the AFL and the CIO held in Pittsburgh (Sept.22-25, 1997) since their separate formation in 1881 and 1938 in the same city. Approved by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. |
| America's Industrial Heritage Project | Johnstown | PA | Purpose is to commemorate the contribution of the region's iron, steel, coal and transportation industries. Also plan to use related historic sites and cultural resources for a tourism promotion program. | ||
| Anderson, Colonel James, Monument | outside of the entrance to the Allegheny Library | Pittsburgh | PA | Andrew Carnegie dedicated this monument to the businessman/philanthropist Colonel Anderson who let working boys (like Andrew Carnegie) borrow books from his personal library. | Bacon's exedra was demolished for construction of the Allegheny Center in the 1960s. French's sculpture was saved. In 1988 sufficient funds allowed architect Sylvester Damianos to reconstruct the exedra and restore the monument to its original location. |
| Anthracite Boys, Bust | office of the Mayor | Wilkes-Barre | PA | Honors "the boys of the anthracite" and is an inspiration to youths brought before Mayor Charles N. Loveland for juvenile offenses. | Given by Mrs. Sarah Atherton Bridgeman who wrote the novel "Mark's Own" about anthracite. |
| Avondale Mine Disaster | Avondale, Plymouth Township, East side of US Route 11 | Avondale | PA | At 10 am, Sept. 6, 1869, one of the worst disasters in the history of US anthracite mining occurred at the Avondale Mine. A fire, originating from a furnace at the bottom of a 237 foot shaft roared up the shaft killing 110 miners, 80% of whom were Welsh. | On Sept 9, 1869, the last body was removed from the mine. The disaster also killed 2 boys, ages 10 and 14, who began working just that day. See also: Avondale Mine Disaster, Washburn Cemetery |
| Avondale Mine Disaster, Washburn Cemetery | West Washburn on West Side of Scranton | Scranton | PA | 9/6/1869--one of the worst disasters in the history of US anthracite mining. At Avondale Mine, a fire from a furnace at the bottom of a 237 foot shaft roared up the shaft killing 110 miners. 61 victims were laid to rest at Washburn Cemetery on 9/9/1869. | See also: Avondale Mine Disaster |
| Bost Building Historical Marker | Bost Building | Homestead | PA | The Bost Building was the Amalgamated Association of Iron & Steel Workers' headquarters. This office helped direct the workers through one of the bloodiest battles between workers and owners, the Homestead Strike. | |
| Canonsburg Honor Roll Tablet | Canonsburg | PA | Honors local UMWA members who are now in the armed forces. Also honors the war support of this local union with the purchase of war bonds and participation in the American War Drive. | ||
| Congress of Industrial Organizations Founding, State Historical Marker | North Commons Drive above Allegheny Center | Pittsburgh | PA | To "organize workers into powerful industrial unions," UMWA President, John L. Lewis called a meeting in Pittsburgh's Islam Grotto on Nov. 14, 1938, founding the Congress of Industrial Organizations. | One of three markers dedicated during the first convention of the AFL and the CIO held in Pittsburgh (Sept.22-25, 1997) since their separate formation in 1881 and 1938 in the same city. Approved by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. |
| Darr Mine Disaster State Historical Marker | Olive Branch Cemetery, PA Route 981 between PA Route 51 and Smithton, Pa. | Van Meter, Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County | PA | An explosion in the Darr Mine on Dec. 19, 1907, killed 239 coal miners, many of whom were Hungarian. Seventy-one of the dead share a common grave in Olive Branch Cemetery. December, 1907, was the worst month in US coal mining history with over 3000 dead. | |
| Erie County Labor Monument | West Perry Square | Erie | PA | Funded by local and international trade unions to serve as a visible reminder of the contributions of working men and women and as a focal point for organized labor in the future. | |
| Homestead Historical Marker | Pinkerton Landing Site, Southern bank of Monongahela River | Homestead | PA | July 6, 1892 two barges ordered by the Carnegie Steel Co. landed on the south bank of the Monongahela River, sought to occupy Carnegie Steel Works and put down a strike by members of the Amalgamated Association of Iron & Steel Workers. | Workers fought back and the Pinkertons surrendered. 8,000 state militia men showed up 6 days later and the strike was broken by November. See: Bost Building See: Homestead Strikers' Gravesites |
| Homestead Strikers' Gravesites | St. Mary's & Homestead Cemeteries | Homestead & Munhall | PA | 5 of the 7 workers who died at the Homestead Strike were finally honored with marked graves. The graves are in 2 adjacent cemeteries. John Morris, 6th worker killed, already had a marked grave. George Butte, 7th worker killed, was buried in Verona. | |
| Johnstown Corporation Plaque | Johnstown Corporation property on Central Avenue | Johnstown | PA | Memorializes 3 workers at Johnstown Corporation who lost their lives on Dec 13, 1989 while at work. Hot metal escaped from a mold and the 3 men died instantly from breathing superheated air. | |
| Kehoe, Jack, Hibernian House | Girardville | PA | Nestled in Pennsylvania's anthracite region, Jack "Blackjack" Kehoe owned this tavern; the state sentenced him to death in 1878 as a leader of the Molly Maguires. | ||
| Lattimer Massacre Memorial & Historical Marker | Lattimer mines, village entrance (fork of "Front" and "Back" Sts.) |
Hazelton | PA | Immigrant workers remember the site where Polish, Lithuanian and Slovak miners were gunned down by the Lattimer Sheriff deputies on Sept. 10, 1897. The miners were marching peacefully and without weapons for collective bargaining and civil liberty. | |
| Mather Mine Disaster Monument | Jefferson Cemetery | Mather | PA | 197 men died in a mine explosion in 1928. Four bodies were never found. | |
| McIntyre Mine Disaster Monument | McIntyre | PA | On June 30, 1941 an explosion at Kent No. 2 mine killed 7 men. The explosion was caused by dust in the mine. This caused the area to become more aware of safety in the mines. | ||
| Mitchell, John, Monument | Courthouse Square | Scranton | PA | Honors John Mitchell, AFL Vice President who led anthracite miners in PA out to strike industry wide. | Strike triggered the intervention of President Roosevelt in 1901 and the first instance where the federal government recognized unions as equals in an employment dispute. |
| Murray, Philip, Bridge | Chartiers Creek | Canonsburg | PA | Spanning the Creek near Curry Field, where steelworkers rallied in 1931, this bridge memorializes Philip Murray, founding member and past president of the United Steelworkers of America. | |
| New Century Guild Building | 1307 Locust Street | Philadelphia | PA | The New Century Guild was founded in 1882 and was formed explicitly from the outset to address specific needs of "self-supporting women." This was a bold step at the time when Americans believed that no self-respecting woman would work for pay. | The founder was Eliza Turner. Lucretia Longshore Blanhenburg, Florence Kelly and Helen Campbell helped form the guild which was there for women who worked during the day and wanted to better educate themselves at night. |
| Quinn, Richard F., Monument | Philadelphia | PA | Honors Richard F. Quinn who was a letter carrier and charter member of the National Association of Letter Carriers in 1889. | ||
| Railroad Strike of 1877 State Historical Marker | Liberty Avenue & 26th St. | Pittsburgh | PA | Railroad and industrial workers revolted against the concentration of wealth and economic disruption resulting from technological change. In a prolonged and bloody confrontation with thousands of citizens, the Philadelphia militia killed at least 26. | One of three markers dedicated during the first convention of the AFL and the CIO held in Pittsburgh (Sept.22-25, 1997) since their separate formation in 1881 and 1938 in the same city. Approved by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. |
| Sellins, Fannie & Starzeleski, Joseph, Monument | Union Cemetery | Arnold | PA | Marks the gravesites of Fannie Sellins and Joseph Starzeleski, who were murdered by company guards on a picket line in Brackenridge, PA on August 26, 1919. Sellins was a UMWA organizer and Starzeleski was a miner. | see: Sellins, Fannie, Historical Marker--Arnold, PA |
| Sellins, Fannie, Historical Marker | Entrance to Union Cemetery | Arnold | PA | Pittsburgh unionists located this marker near the grave of Fannie Sellins. The UMWA organizer was murdered on Aug. 26, by Coal & Iron police, while picketing during the nationwide steel strike of 1919. | Joseph Starzeleski, a miner who was also killed that day, is buried nearby in the Union Cemetery. See also: Fannie Sellins and Joseph Starzeleski Monument, Arnold, PA |
| Sylvis, William H., Historical Marker | Campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | PA | Labor history advocates placed a marker to William Sylvis on the present campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. It notes his birthplace in Indiana County, Pa. Sylvis founded the Molders' Union in 1859 and the National Labor Union in 1868. | National Labor Union preceded the American Federation of Labor. See also: William Sylvis Monument, Lansdale, PA |
| Sylvis, William, Monument | Fernwood Cemetery | Lansdowne | PA | Marks the grave of William Sylvis who was a founder of the Molders Union, and became president in 1863. Also founded the International Journal, was devoted to the idea of International Unions. He advocated women and African American memberships in unions. | Sylvis' body was first buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. Moved to its present site possibly in 1952. See: Sylvis, William, Historical Marker--Indiana, PA |
| Workers Memorial Tower | Heritage Park | Reading | PA | The memorial tower was a part of the bridge that carried workers across tracks and yards of the Reading Railroad. It was known as the "Swinging Bridge." | The tower is a part of a 5.5 acre park that has a 25 foot high observation deck, displays of vintage machinery, historical exhibits, a picnic area and a boat launching area. |
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