July 16, 2018 - It’s no secret that southern West Virginia’s history has strong ties to the coal industry, but how many people have seen that history up close and personal?

At Beckley’s Exhibition Coal Mine, thousands of tourists travel far and wide to Raleigh County to get an up close view of what an underground mine would look like.

The exhibition coal mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia

Visitors are guided through the underground tunnel by veteran miners who are able to provide real-life stories of what it’s like to work day in and day out underground. They ride through the dark, and often chilly, mine shafts of a vintage coal mine. Along the way, visitors learn about the history and culture of coal mining in West Virginia.

This is a great destination for families, as the facility includes a youth museum with several interactive displays and a planetarium. Behind the museum, visitors can explore a recreated homestead that shows what a traditional Appalachian settlement would have looked like on the frontier.

There are eight different buildings in the homestead that have been reconstructed, so tourists can visit a weaver’s home, a log house and even a schoolhouse. Trained officials explain the historical and cultural significance of each facility and what role it played in the society of long ago. 

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