The
Luzerne County Historical Society is one of the oldest continually operating local
historical societies in America. It was founded on February 11, 1858, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the first successful burning of
anthracite coal by
Jesse Fell, and was originally named the
Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. The organization operates the historic
Swetland Homestead in
Wyoming, Pennsylvania and the
Luzern County Museum which also features a separate research library in
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It also administers the Nathan Dennison home.