Discover Pennsylvania’s hidden history with 10 shocking facts they never taught you in school - from Benjamin Franklin’s groundbreaking inventions to the underground fire that’s been burning for over 60 years in Centralia. Pennsylvania didn’t just witness American history, it invented it. From the world’s first computer to the birth of the oil industry, the Keystone State shaped modern America in ways you never imagined, including a mysterious underground coal fire that still burns today after six decades.
The Detail That Changes Everything
On May 27, 1962, the Centralia volunteer fire department set a trash fire that ignited an exposed coal seam. The fire spread through underground mines beneath the town. Over sixty years later, it still burns today. The federal government spent over $42 million relocating residents. By 2010, only ten remained of the original fourteen hundred.
Historical Context
This story spans 1731-present and is centered in Pennsylvania. Understanding the broader historical context is essential to grasping why events unfolded as they did.
Key Figures
The central figures in this story include Benjamin Franklin, Edwin Drake, John Presper Eckert, John Mauchly, Frank Conrad, and Joseph Leidy. Each played a distinct role in the events documented in this episode.
What This Documentary Covers
- Discover how Benjamin Franklin revolutionized more than just electricity in colonial Philadelphia
- Uncover the shocking truth about Edwin Drake’s oil discovery that changed the world forever
- Explore the Pennsylvania connection to the world’s first electronic computer ENIAC
- Investigate the Centralia coal fire disaster that’s been burning underground since 1962
- Reveal Pennsylvania’s forgotten role in launching America’s industrial revolution
Themes Explored
This episode examines interconnected themes including colonial history, industrial revolution, oil industry, computer history, underground fire, Benjamin Franklin, innovation. These themes recur across multiple episodes in our documentary collection, revealing patterns that connect seemingly unrelated stories.
Watch the Full Documentary
This companion article provides context and background for the full documentary. For the complete story with narration, original music, and archival imagery, watch the episode above or on YouTube.
