American Institute of Mining Engineers
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Organization founded in 1871 by 22 mining professionals to promote safety, education, economics, and technology in mining. One of the first national engineering societies in the US, the institute and its 150,000+ members honor the group's legacy by providing education and upholding professional values. The founding meeting of AIME as well as that of the Pa. Anthracite Section of AIME were held here at the site of the former Wyoming Valley Hotel.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
By 1871 the anthracite fields of northeastern Pennsylvania powered much of American industry, but mining remained deadly and technically primitive. That year twenty-two mining professionals met at the Wyoming Valley Hotel in Wilkes-Barre to found the American Institute of Mining Engineers, one of the nation's first engineering societies, aimed at improving safety, training, and technology. From that meeting grew an organization that today counts well over a hundred thousand members worldwide.
Why it matters
It marks a turning point when American industry began treating engineering as a learned profession, with safety and shared knowledge at its core.
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Related events
- · Founding of the American Institute of Mining Engineers
Themes & tags
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