Deep, dark and dangerous — coal mining during the early 1900s was all that and more.
The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine & Youth Museum in the southern part of West Virginia, fresh from a $3.5 million renovation, offers a glimpse into this rigorous way of life that once fueled the local economy (and literally fueled America’s modes of transportation). The Beckley mine was known for its deposits of low-sulfur coal, used in domestic and international steelmaking. Those curious about the profession that once defined the region’s culture can head 1,500 feet beneath the hillsides of New River Park, hop into authentic “man cars” and follow the low coal seam 900 feet into what were once actual working areas of the coal mine. As drops of water plop from the ceiling, former miners talk about the history of their work, from the arduous hand-loading days to modern-day mechanization.
(One thing to consider: Though you may head for the historic spot on a balmy spring or summer day, you’ll want to bring something to bundle up against the mine’s constant 58-degree temperature.)
Back above ground, the Beckley property displays restored buildings gathered from around West Virginia to round out the portrait of a coal camp — from a three-story superintendent’s home and miner’s shanty, to a 1920s church and school. Want even more insight into the state’s culture? The mine is linked to the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia and the Mountain Homestead. The Youth Museum’s weaving house, barn and blacksmith shop offer a slice of late-1800s life on the Appalachian frontier.