Scott Herring, “The Last Anthracite Photographer,” will present “America’s True Melting Pot: The Ethnicities of Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Coal Region” as part of the Minersville Area Historical Society’s America250 Speaker Series. The program will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2026, (snow date February 26) at 7:00 pm at the Valley Road Venue, 1332 Valley Road, Pottsville, PA. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Admission is free. There will be complimentary refreshments, displays, and giveaways while supplies last. The venue has ample parking and is handicapped-accessible.

 The Minersville Area Historical Society will have a selection of ethnic license plates available for purchase at the event. These extremely popular license plates featuring various ethnicities of the region provide an excellent lead-in to the discussion of Anthracite’s many contributing ethnicities. All sales (cash or check only) will benefit the Minersville Area Historical Society.

 Herring is a native of Tamaqua, PA, and a fifth-generation underground miner who by the age of thirteen began learning deep mining skills and the art of coal mining photography. He is well known both for his stunning photography and for his dedication to the cultural heritage of the Anthracite region. Herring has never sold any of his Anthracite region images for personal profit; instead, they are available exclusively in support of the many hard coal cultural heritage and historic restoration efforts throughout the Anthracite region.

For more information, contact The Minersville Area Historical Society, (570) 399-5037, mahistsoc@gmail.com.