Despite sticky and wet weather, the mood was jubilant Aug. 8, when the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DandL) and National Canal Museum (NCM) officially combined assets to better tell the story of King Coal.

From anthracite-coal mines in Luzerne County, these black diamonds meandered down Josiah White's canal and along rail lines through Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties. It ultimately transformed the Lehigh Valley from an agricultural economy into the world's center for iron production, often hailed as a "birthplace of the Industrial Revolution."

DandL President Elissa Garofalo, at a news conference attended by both business leaders and local history buffs, claims this alliance will merge the "federal power of the National Park Service with the storytelling prowess of a Smithsonian-affiliated museum."

Nick Forte, DandL board chair, said that, though the trail needs more work, "today our emphasis has expanded toward telling and celebrating the stories of our heritage - our recognized role as leaders in American industry."

Established 25 years ago, the Heritage Corridor is 165 miles of bike paths and rivers that bring people onto main streets and historic backyards, generating more than 3,300 jobs and $240 million in annual economic development. It includes nine national historic landmarks, six national recreation trails, two national natural landmarks, one state heritage area, seven state parks, three state historical parks, 14 state scenic rivers, 14 game lands and hundreds of sites listed on the National Register of on the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Canal Museum, hidden like a treasure at the southern boundary of Hugh Moore Park, contains thousands of artifacts and archives telling the story of America's Industrial Revolution.

The rise of King Coal, and eventually, the Bethlehem Steel, is attributed to visionaries like Josiah White, who built the transportation system that made cheap fuel possible. But there were other, more humble, heroes, like the mules who pulled the canal boats day after day.

Two of them, George and Hank, still pull the NCM's canal boat during the hot summer days. But, true to their reputation for stubborness, they refused to budge after Garofalo christened barge Josiah White II with a bottle of bubbly. Instead of pulling, they went back to their stalls.

So guests enjoyed the remainder of the afternoon under the canopy of the large vessel while the 1,100 lbs. mules waited for the recognition they so richly deserved.

At least a carrot.