Inland

Exploring the Schuylkill River, Inland reveals the hidden industrial landscapes of Pennsylvania through stunning photography and insightful essays.

The book Inland takes readers on a unique photographic journey along the Schuylkill River, uncovering the once-prominent industrial landscapes of Pennsylvania that have largely been forgotten. Flowing over 100 miles from the coal region mountains to the Delaware River, the Schuylkill passes through several counties, yet many residents are unaware of the hidden remnants of the Schuylkill Navigation, a pioneering waterway system that dates back 200 years. This remarkable infrastructure, often buried in plain sight, includes a network of canals, dams, locks, and aqueducts that played a vital role in the region's industrial history.

Photographer Sandy Sorlien dedicated seven years to exploring this overlooked landscape. Armed with various tools, including historical maps and modern technology, she meticulously documented all sixty-one lock sites and canal beds, revealing the remnants of an ambitious industrial endeavor that ultimately fell victim to environmental degradation. The photographs in Inland showcase a haunting beauty, capturing the essence of a once-thriving transportation network that supported towns along the river, now left to decay due to pollution and changing economic circumstances.

Complemented by essays from notable scholars and a new map that ties the narrative together, Inland serves as both a visual history and a resource for future historians. It not only highlights the rich industrial past of the Schuylkill River but also invites readers to ponder the lasting impact of human innovation on the environment and the communities that once flourished along its banks.