Wilkeson’s Historic Coke Ovens
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Boasting a population of just under 500, the small community of Wilkeson, Washington, lies in the heart of Pierce County’s Carbon River Valley. Once a lively and vibrant mining community, it has withstood the test of time…despite seeing an end to its primary economic driver. But rather than resign itself to a fate of joining the ranks of dozens of other ghost towns throughout the state, Wilkeson has endured. And its residents have turned what was once an industrial eyesore into a unique and fascinating historical attraction that helps bolster Wilkeson’s blue-collar heritage. Join me as we blast, drill, and dig deep into the earth to discover the gritty, sweat-soaked story of Wilkeson. We’ll remember the town’s last living coal miner, and we’ll see how residents today are turning their past into a promising future.