In this episode, we dig into some of Pennsylvania’s deepest lessons in environmental history — from the ’70s activists who gave Pittsburgh its cleaner air to the lost history of African-American environmentalism.
Listen to this episode (29:00)
Stories in this episode
You Have These ’70s Activists to Thank for Pittsburgh’s Cleaner Air - In the 1960s, Pittsburgh's horrible air earned it the nickname ‘Hell with the lid off.' But a group of housewives, doctors and engineers with a knack for guerrilla marketing helped clear the air.
EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Tells Pennsylvania Miners He Has Their Back - During a quick stop-over in Greene County, the EPA administrator made the case that an industry-friendly EPA can indeed help coal miners. 
Inside the World of ‘Small’ Oil - Believe it or not, thousands of small, mom-and-pop oil producers still make a living pumping their own crude the way they have for generations.
Looking Back at African-American Environmental History - From its roots in slavery to its place in modern activist movements, the story of African-American environmentalism is as deep as it is complicated.
Sixty Years Ago, Smog Killed 20 People in a Pennsylvania Town. This Museum Tells Their Story. - What happened in Donora, Pennsylvania in 1948 was a massive tragedy. But it helped spark a movement to clean up the nation's dirty air.
The Canals That Redrew Pennsylvania’s Wilderness and Remade Its Economy - Though few relics of the legendary Pennsylvania Mainline canal system exist today, it set in motion an era of canal building that still shapes how we move goods around the country.
