Graffiti Highway

September 3, 2021

1–2 minutes

Centralia, Pennsylvania was evacuated following a coal mine fire, which has been burning beneath the town since 1962. In 1992, Pennsylvania condemned the town and claimed it under eminent domain in an attempt for force the remaining residents out. Some sued, and were allowed to stay. A section of State Route 61 was abandoned after it began to buckle and crumble from the underground fire. This has become known as “Graffiti Highway.” Smoke can still be seen coming through cracks in the ground in some places.

Explore more abandoned and forgotten places in my new book Fading Corners & Abandoned Images

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4 responses to “Graffiti Highway”

gsb03632

March 7, 2022 at 2:41 pm

The louts covered the graffiti up before I had a chance to visit. Still an immensely interesting site.

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Les

September 5, 2021 at 7:43 pm

Just outside the town is where the Mahony Plane used to be. It’s where Coal was hauled up & down the mountain via coal cars. Not much is there just a historic sign.

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Michael Kleen

September 5, 2021 at 6:52 am

Very interesting! Thanks, I’ll check out Shenandoah, sounds interesting

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Les

September 3, 2021 at 10:22 am

Mike – Since I don’t live very far from Centralia, I’ve been there a number of times. I remember traveling RT61 North into the town long ago. Since then it has been covered over with truck loads of dirt! All you can see now is mounds of dirt. That I know, Centralia is no longer smoking. Fire might have died out, but not sure. There are still 1 or 2 homes that are lived in, but not many. Most of the residents have moved into Ashland or other towns. If you venture there again, be careful. Twp. management does not want people walking around in the area! There are still covered mine shafts around. Take a short drive up to Shenandoah. A very historic Coal Mine town.

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