Benham is a tiny town of about 500 people in Harlan County, Kentucky. Harlan County was in its time…read moreknown for its coal mining industry. The Kentucky Coal Museum opened in 1994 and is dedicated to preserving and exhibiting items and stories that tell the story of coal mining in the company towns of Benham and neighboring Lynch. The Coal Museum is in the former Benham Coal Camp's company commissary, where the workers and family members shopped and spend time of recreation. The museum has exhibits on four levels. The basement level has a mock mine that simulates the underground mining experience. The main (first) level presents the daily life of mining families, including a completely furnished kitchen, a hospital, and a typical scene from a commissary. The second (mezzanine) level shows many items and photographs of Benham area during its formative years. The third level features the Loretta Lynn Exhibit. Lynn (1932-2022) was from Butcher Hollow, a coal-mining community in Johnson County, Kentucky, and she paid tribute to the town in her song "Coal Miner's Daughter." Besides replicas from Butcher Hollow, you can take a look at Maggard's General Store, the Coal Company business office, and a reconstruction of a Leatherwood mining camp's diner, which the locals called the "Y". Mining is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. It includes risks such as cave-ins, explosions, toxic air, and exposure to hazardous materials. The most impressing thing in the museum are letters from men trapped in various mine disasters. They wrote those letters and notes to their families shortly before perishing. For example, in the Fraterville Disaster in Tennessee in 1902, the worst mining disaster in the United States' history which killed 216 victims, a trapped miner named Powell Harmon wrote a note to his wife and children which said: "My time has come to die. I trust in Jesus. Teach the children to believe in Jesus. It is now 10 minutes till 10 and we are all almost smothered. Don't know how long we will live but it is our time to go. I hope to meet you all in heaven. May God bless you all wife and children for Jesus sake. Good bye until we meet to part no more. P.S. - My Boys, Never work in the coal mines. Henry and Condy, be good boys and stay with your mother and trust in Jesus." Nevertheless, Condy Harmon did become a coal miner like his father. He died in 1911 in the Cross Mountain Mine disaster, Tennessee, in an explosion with 83 other coal miners. The mining industry in Harlan County faced a significant decline in the late 1900s. The closure of many mines began in the 1980s and continued through the 1990s. Ultimately, the last active coal mine in Harlan County closed in 2016, marking the end of an era for the region's mining activities. The museum has a large gift shop. Behind the museum is the Coal Miners Memorial Park. When you are in the area, I also recommend a visit to near-by Kingdom Come State Park in Cumberland.

I'm not from Harlan County but in my time living here I have come to see how much mining and the…read morehistory of mining is deeply woven into the fabric of this region. So I knew at some point I had to check out this museum. My mother came along with me and we enjoyed each of the little vignette-type displays representing mining life. As much as this is a museum of coal mining and the coal mining culture, it is also a flashback to earlier American culture. I enjoyed the recreations of the old 1940s kitchens and the display of the old physician's equipment. It's also important that the museum showcases the x-rays depicting the Black Lung that now is just as representative of the coal life as anything else. In a region where coal is still King, this museum was a great way to look back at how far it's come and see how much has been lost.

My husband and I came here and I am so happy we did ! They charged a small fee to get in - I think…read morewe paid 6.00 ! The museum was so informative and so very interesting to us both ! It gave a lot of history if you take the time to read the writings - lots of photos as well ! It is on the beautiful grounds of LMU! I highly recommend this amazing museum .

I've been meaning to post this review for awhile. The museum is undergoing some renovations. It…read morewas enlightening to learn about more of the local history. We enjoyed a self guided tour of the home and a trip to the gift shop. General Longstreet was an excellent tactician with a heart for his men. It was interesting to learn that he was often in disagreement with General Lee, especially over Gettysburg and Pickett's Charge. After the War, he supported his longtime friend and once adversary, President Grant. He was also in support of Reconstruction and healing a nation. Glad to have this museum and the very helpful curator in our community.

Mr. William Nenney's house is probably not much to look at on the outside. It's not ostentatious…read more It's really rather simple. But the hard wood floors creak with charm and the small handful of Nenney family historical pieces bring it to life. Overall, it's very well preserved and chock-full of archives from the Civil War. Beyond showcasing Longstreet, actually the interior is full of information, anecdotes and historical tidbits about East Tennessee's fascinating role during several campaigns. And since I'm particularly intrigued with both those things this visit was a real treat for me! I told my tour guide that I was just passing through and that we needed to be quick. She understood and made accommodations. She was so sweet and just let me tour around the house at my pace while she stood nearby to answer questions. You can tell she really loved giving tours, especially to the school kids as she tells me. She says, "You realize, you are walking around the same place where Longstreet marched around in his boots. Right?" Well, yeah. When you put it that way it makes this house really cool. If you want you can time your visit around a reenactment which they host seasonally. Besides that, there's no blood or gore or big elaborate exhibit at this museum. Mainly just a select few artifacts and the rest is knowledge and oral storytelling and trinkets passed down from nearby families. At the adjacent visitor center you can pull out a read from one of the dozens of notebooks, binders, and archives of paper, print and historical record. It's really great preservation work. You'll just have to visit the Nenney house to see for yourself. There's lots to learn.

Enjoyed this tour with Roger and we learned many things about William Blount. Once you step inside…read morethe house you're truly stepping back in time, the smell included, not a bad smell at all, but the scent of what a centuries old house would bring to mind. The original hardwood floor is what you notice first and the rest is just awe-inspiring as well. Please see it!

We had some time in Downtown Knoxville and decided to check out the mansion. The staff are super…read morenice, and we enjoyed talking with them. We were given a tour with just our family which was really cool. We all really loved the tour. It was great for our son who could touch a lot of objects. They also had a table to try and write with a quill. I would recommend the mansion if you love history.

Wonderful place to see God's creation. The beautiful animals are friendly and all around. The store…read morepart is great with things to buy from the past. The restaurant serves the old country food from years ago. I do wish they'd expand their menu some but it is still good. Lots of vendors on special days there as well.

Surprised at how well exhibited the museum is! It's a fairly large outdoor exhibit. If you're a…read moresenior, you might want to ho when it's cooler out. Highly recommended!

Such a cute little stop. Expect to spend 5-20 mins here. The museum is just one room and has a…read moreguestbook you can sign.

Awesome museum! Great stop! Free of charge. Stopped in after hiking the Tri-state peak trail. It's…read morenot big, but it is air conditioned. It won't take you long to go through it, but it's worth your time if you are in the area.

Currently open on the first Saturday of the month, 10 to 2, for those interested in seeing inside…read morewhat provided travel across America for fifty years before aviation travel. See also how employees rode in the now defunct cabooses

The docents at the museum are very friendly and helpful! When I called prior to our visit, they…read morelet me know that putting in a slightly different address would be more helpful for navigation. Unfortunately, our appointment was after dark and the parking area is not lit, but we were still able to find it easily. The tour was fascinating and proceeded at a good pace. The docents being in period costumes was fun. The details and stories were fascinating! Highly recommend the tour!

The history in Knoxville Tenn. and these houses that tell a tale or more!…read more There is actually a passport you can purchase which gives a history and listing of all the homes to see. A $40.00 price which turns out to be about half of what you'd pay if you choose to see all theses homes!! Great deal Our guide was a historian and if he had been my history teacher I would have gotten all A's in history!! The story behind all who dwelt in this home.. oh my... and the money and the purchasing of slaves History and hardship and quite a harlequin tale on top of it all.. and the diet Miss ALICE complied to to keep that figure. She died of starvation! Quite a tale... house number one and the rest to come.. enjoy history and information the grounds and the education!!! Great experience !! Another must do... for y'all!!