Day 93 / 102 - Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum

We took a field trip on Friday to Beckley's very own Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum.  The once-operating vintage underground mine, which was purchased by the city, has been restored to accommodate visitors.  We traveled by rail car and received general information from our guide, a veteran miner, about that specific mine as well as mining history in our area.  The area around the mine is set up like a turn-of-the-century coal camp including a Baron's house, a school, and a church.  If you would like to take the tour virtually, this author does a great job explaining his recent visit (click here).

Located next to the Exhibition Coal Mine is the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia.  The youth museum is designed to entertain and educate as it portrays the history, culture, and character of our uncommon coal-mining town.  It even includes a planetarium and a mountain homestead.