You can contact the Luzerne County Museum by calling (570) 822-1727, or by sending an e-mail to: museum@luzernecountyhistory.com. Incoming faxes can be directed to (570) 823-9011

Hours of Operation

The Luzerne County Museum is located at 69 South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre, directly behind the Osterhout Free Library.  The Museum is open to the public, Tuesday through Friday from Noon to 4:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Admission to the Museum is free of charge.  There are numerous parking meters available along South Franklin Street, and a public parking garage is available just down the street from the Museum (Boscovs Department Store).

Current Exhibit

"Religious Institutions of Luzerne County" showcases various artifacts, books, and photographs related to Luzerne County's religious institutions.   One of the focal points of this exhibit is the ark from the United Orthodox Synagogue on Wells Street in Wilkes-Barre.  This ark was recently given to the Jewish Federation of Wilkes-Barre.  Other objects included in this exhibit are the wheel from the bell tower of Good Shepherd Polish National Catholic Church in Plymouth, a painting by Reverend Joseph Murgas of Sacred Heart Church in Wilkes-Barre, the robe worn by Reverend Andrew Byrdie of the Langcliffe Presbyterian Church in Avoca, and the burnt mortgage from the Messiah Primitive Methodist Church in Bear Creek.

"Women of the Past" shows over fifty never-before-seen photographs of many of the prominent women of Luzerne County history.  Not only are many of the names recongnizable, but the fashion worn by some of the women should not be missed.  Included in this display are Mrs. Amelia Schmidt, who was killed in the cyclone of 1890 in Wilkes-Barre, Mary Denison Patterson, the daughter of Colonel Nathan Denison, Hanna Packard James, the first librarian of the Osterhout Free Library, and Sarah Butler Woodward, the wife of Judge Stanley Woodward.

Both exhibits will be on display until December 2003.   There is no charge for admission.

The Anthracite Coal exhibit is closed to the public until late fall because it is being upated with more artifacts and pictures.  A video telling the history of coal mining and a working model of a coal breaker are being installed.   The "History of the 109th Field Artillery" will open later in 2003.