Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation Becomes an Affiliate of the Senator John Heinz History Center

SOMERSET, Pa., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation in Somerset County is now an official affiliate of the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, the largest history museum in Pennsylvania and home of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum and the Library & Archives.

"We are very pleased to be part of the History Center and its network of organizations preserving the history of Pennsylvania," said Bill Arnold, Director Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation.  "Our mission as a Foundation is to educate the public about our coal mining heritage and the 2002 Quecreek Mine Rescue is part of that heritage."

On July 24, 2002 miners broke through into an abandoned, water-filled mine flooding the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County with over 50 million gallons of water. Nine miners scrambled to safety, but nine were trapped in a pocket of air in the dark, cold, water-filled mine. They were rescued four days later through the combined efforts of state and federal mine rescue agencies and hundreds of workers and volunteers.

"The History Center is proud to join the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation in telling the stories of hard-working Pennsylvania miners that have helped to shape our region over the past 250 years," said Andy Masich, president and CEO of the History Center. "The History Center's affiliates program includes more than 125 regional historical societies and organizations dedicated to preserving local history. We are happy to have the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation on board as our newest affiliate."

"As an affiliate we will have access to the librarians, curators and museum specialists at the Heinz History Center to help us better design and present the story of the Quecreek Rescue in our new Visitors' Center and how it fits in with our region's coal mining history," said Arnold.  "It will also help promote visits to the rescue site by many types of groups who might normally not think to visit."

Now more than 10,000 visitors a year visit the rescue site looking to learn more about the "Quecreek Miracle."  The site became part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Historical Marker Program in 2006.

The Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that relies on support from the public to educate the public about the rescue and to maintain and operate the mine rescue visitors' area.

Contact the Foundation by writing: 151 Haupt Road, Somerset, PA 15501, calling 814-445-4876 or by visiting www.9for9.org

About the Senator John Heinz History Center

The Senator John Heinz History Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in Pennsylvania. The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum is a museum within a museum, comprehensively presenting the region's remarkable sports story through hundreds of artifacts and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages. The History Center and Sports Museum are located at 1212 Smallman Street in Pittsburgh's Strip District, and are open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission includes both the History Center and Sports Museum: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors over 61, $5 for students with ID, $5 for children ages 4-17, and free to members and children under 3. More information is available at www.heinzhistorycenter.org.

SOURCE Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation