Summit Hill Borough along with its historical society want to bring history to life with an immersive museum experience that tells the region’s coal mining and industrial history.

They are partnering on a grant for the conceptual design of a visitors hub and attraction that showcases the borough’s history and role in the nation’s Industrial Revolution.

The borough recently sought letters of support for a gaming grant to begin the first phase of the project, which will be working with a world-class museum design firm on the concept, said Councilman Dave Wargo, who is spearheading the project.

Both Lansford Borough and the Panther Valley School Board agreed to send letters of support toward the borough and historical society’s grant application.

They hope to use virtual reality technology to tell the story of an anthracite miner, allow people to ride the Switchback Railroad, or be a breaker boy picking slate from chutes of rushing coal.

“We want to tell the story in a way it’s never been told,” Wargo said.

The borough doesn’t want to take anything away from other historical sites or museums in the region, but serve as a hub for visitors who may go on to explore the Asa Packer Mansion in Jim Thorpe or venture to Eckley Miners Village, he said.

“This could be a central clearinghouse, sending them to other places,” Wargo said.

The project is in its earliest stages, seeking funds for the concept and design. They hope to use an existing building in the borough, which they hope will spur economic development in town, he said.

Wargo has always wanted to recreate the Switchback Railroad, but there are far too many challenges to do so today, he said.

But interpretive experience design firms, such as Timelooper, can recreate the experience through virtual and augmented reality technology for visitors, allowing them to ride the Switchback, America’s first roller coaster, he said.

Another virtual exhibit could take visitors on an emotional ride, allowing them to experience the tragic loss of life in the mines, and the reality of eviction from a company home, if the grieving family couldn’t quickly replace the lost miner, he said.

Yet another story could show how coal miners were akin to slaves, not ever owning their homes or being paid in more than script worthless outside the company store, Wargo said.

There are so many stories, including that of organized labor, with roots in this region that could be told, he said.

They hope to acquire a $65,000 Local Share Account grant through the state Department of Community and Economic Development to begin designing a conceptual plan, Wargo said.

The second phase would be preconstruction, and third phase would be the actual construction, he said.

Wargo said they hope the visitor center and museum would help the entire area economically, and bring in more businesses as well as visitors.

The project also has support from the county and the Carbon County Chamber and Economic Development.

“This is a unique idea that could bring notoriety to the county,” said Carbon Commissioner Rocky Ahner, who is among a group going to Gettysburg to view a similar attraction, and the inspiration for Summit Hill’s.

“No other counties have a concept like this,” Ahner said.