Newswatch 16’s Jack Culkin stopped by Steamtown National Historic Site, where the Secretary of the Interior emphasized the importance of keeping our history alive.
SCRANTON, Pa. — A slow ride along the turntable at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton gave United States Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum lots of time to take in the historic locomotives during his trip to Lackawanna County.
Burgum says, “I’m most impressed with the team that’s here. I mean the amount of experience that exists here, the love and the care that goes into preserving our history and then not just preserving it but making it living history.”
Joined by Congressman Rob Breshnahan, Burgum is the first secretary to make the trip to Steamtown since the 1990’s, according to park staff.
From seeing what’s on display to the work behind the scenes that keeps the rail yard going, Burgum says the national site is a place that needs to be protected.
Representative Rob Breshnahan (R), 8th district, says, “With that comes necessary upkeep and cap backs and investment to make sure places like this continue to flourish. So, we had a great conversation about the needs on what we need to do to make sure places like Steamtown continue for generations to come.”
“Coal is partly what made the US an energy superpower, and now, Pennsylvania, with being the massive energy powerhouse that Pennsylvania is, it’s going full circle. That tie between energy and transportation and energy and economic development is happening right here. So how cool that someone had the foresight 40 years ago to preserve all this,” says Burgum.
Staff highlighted what makes the park great and what they need to keep things going.
Lackawanna County Commissioners Thom Welby and Chris Chermak agree that an investment in Steamtown is an investment in keeping our area’s past alive for the future.
Chermak says, “He said, ‘ Don’t you show me the fluff stuff here. Show me what you need. And, and to have him in the department of interior, but he is the head of it, considering investing a greater amount in steam town, it’s just fabulous.”
Welby says, “Again, to have the secretary here to witness and see what we have, it’s just excellent.”
The trip will hopefully bring national support to the local treasure, preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary along with America’s 250th birthday this summer.