WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — People gathered in downtown Wilkes-Barre on Sunday to mark 150 years since the founding of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers.
In 1871, 23 men hosted a three-day meeting that grew to nearly 70 mining engineers who established the institute at the old Wyoming Valley Hotel on River Street.
Since then, the organization has grown to nearly 200,000 members.
City officials gathered on Public Square on Sunday to unveil a plaque observing the 150th anniversary.
"I'm very proud to be a part of it and proud to be part of the organization. And I think it should be something that our whole organization should be very proud of," said Mike Korb, a previous chairman of the society.
Officials say 43 of the 69 founders were originally from northeastern Pennsylvania.