Duquesne and Washington Camp

Duquesne and Washington Camp

The two towns of Duquesne and Washington Camp are closely tied together. The area known as Washington Camp was first settled in the 18070's. By 1890, the Duquesne Mining and Reduction Company of Pittsburgh purchased the mining property, established the town of Duquesne to be the company headquarters and built a reduction plant in Washington Camp. Both towns now began to prosper, reaching their peak populations of around 1000 by 1900. By 1920, however, both towns began to die. Today, a few people still live in the area. There are several abandoned buildings remaining, including the ruins of a school and what was once a boarding house.

 

Abandoned miner's shack

 

Abandoned mine near Duquesne