The Wyoming Valley is nestled among the Endless Mountains in Luzerne County with the scenic Susquehanna River meandering through it. Best known for its rich deposits of anthracite coal, the Wyoming Valley was first colonized by Connecticut settlers in 1769. Electric trolleys served many urban centers in Pennsylvania. Trolley service in the Wyoming Valley started in 1888 and lasted for more than 60 years. Trolley lines went through the boroughs and townships of Ashley, Courtdale, Edwardsville, Forty Fort, Hanover, Kingston, Larksville, Miners Mills, Nanticoke, Parsons, Pittston, Plains, Plymouth, Sugar Notch, West Pittston, West Wyoming, Wilkes-Barre, and Wyoming. Greater Wyoming Valley Trolleys features rare photographs dating from the 1890s to 1950 documenting the trolley system and the communities of the Wyoming Valley.

Wilkes-Barre, founded in 1769, is a city of changes: environmental changes brought on by the Susquehanna River and industrial changes that transformed a quiet farming community into a busy breaker town. When anthracite coal was discovered in the 1800s and massive coal breakers were built, immigrants from eastern, western, and southern Europe began to arrive. As these immigrants arrived, they changed the face of the city, creating their own communities and hamlets. Fortunately for the citizens of the Wyoming Valley, changes continue today, thanks to many forward-thinking men and women who see the potential in something old and take the time to make it new again.

The Susquehanna River meanders through Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania, passing communities historically known for the mining of anthracite coal. Settlement of the area began in 1769 during the first Yankee-Pennamite War. Luzerne County illustrates many boroughs, townships, and villages in a rare collection of photographs, advertisements, and history dating back to the 18th century. Historical photographs from the Luzerne County Historical Society depict businesses, churches, coal culture, street scenes, area disasters, entertainment, railroads, steamboats, and veterans, including the last survivor of the Battle of Wyoming in 1778 and the Civil War.