This is the centerpiece of Saltville. This unoriginally named town holds more intrigue than you…read morewould probably think. The salt is a product of some unusual geologic conditions that lead animal bones to be well preserved, making this a top site for archaeology. In addition, the salt was also of enormous economic value and was a military asset during the Civil War, making this the site of a significant set of armed conflict. Some other environmental and cultural history pops up as well. The museum has several well-produced and substantial documentaries showing in a tiny theater. The two rooms of exhibits take up more time than you'd think, and I was probably there for an hour and a half or so. The $5 admission is worth it, easily. The town continues to have some unusually salty ponds that you can walk around on some paved trails, as well as some historic markers and a recreated set of salt mining equipment on the edge of town. All of these features and more can be viewed and contextualized on the museum's topographic map/diaorama. It's not a metropolis, but it is an interesting place.

Self guided tour. Small but very well organized and awesome artifacts. Information on Civil War,…read moreNative Americans, geology and fossils. They also have a few videos to watch.

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.

This was hands-down the highlight of our entire trip! If you're anywhere near Beckley, WV, you HAVE…read moreto take the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine tour! And if you get the chance to take Don's tour, DO IT! Don was incredible. His stories, humor, knowledge, and personal experiences as a coal miner made the history come alive in a way that you just can't get from reading a sign or walking through a museum. He made us laugh, taught us so much, and gave us a whole new appreciation for the men and families who lived and worked in the coal camps. Riding the mine car underground and going through the old mine was such a unique experience. You also get to walk through the historic coal camp buildings, including the company house, superintendent's house, church, school, and miner's shanty. But honestly, what made this place so special was the people. Everyone we talked to in the buildings was incredibly kind, welcoming, and knowledgeable. They were happy to talk with us, answer questions, and share the history behind what we were seeing. We've done a LOT on this trip, and this was easily the experience we'll be talking about the most. It was educational, fascinating, funny, and at times really moving.

I was debating about whether or not to visit, as I was afraid it might be a simulation experience…read more Boy, was I wrong! This turned out to be the highlight of my roadtrip. I enjoyed going underground, and our tour guide, Gerald, was great. He was able to answer all the questions he was asked. I also went to some of the outbuildings. I was surprised and pleased to see that there were docents in the Supervisor's house & the school. Both of those women came from coal mining families, and I was lucky to be able to spend some time talking to each of them about their experiences. What a hard -- and kind of sad -- life. I actually felt a little guilty that mine is so much different. I also went into the gift shop, where all of the women were just hilariously funny! They almost made me wish that I lived in the area & wanted a job; I would love to work with them! I encourage everyone to visit the Beckley Coal Mine. It was very informative and eye-opening.

For five years I had heard my wife talk about how amazing the Whipple Company Store and Museum was…read more So on our way for a weekend at the New River Gorge we stopped in so I could see myself. Needless to say I was blown away! What an absolute treasure. There was an informative tour about the coal company store, the lives of the miners and their families, the coal wars, and about the architecture. The man leading the tour was knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the area. I would recommend coming here to anyone!!

Great place and very educational....i loved the owners and everybody there, very good people. it…read morewas unforgettable!!

What a gem of a museum!…read more We were driving from Texas to West Virginia and stopping at antebellum mansions and other historic spots along the way. When we saw the sign for Settler's Museum (http://www.settlersmuseum.com/), I pulled off the road with a reluctant car of daughers and my partner. Upon leaving, they all proclaimed it to be the single best museum they had ever visited. Off the beaten path, this hidden gem is truly a step back in time to an 1800's farm. With no staff present, we deposited our donation in a jar or some other spot, and then picked up a handheld cassette that narrated our tour throughout the museum "office", school buidling, and then the home and farm buildings set back off the road. When my daughters charged forward to play an old organ in the home, I quickly stopped them only to hear the voice of our female historian issue forth from our cassette as she lovingly instructed parents to allow the children to play it if desired. Every item is open for kids to investigate and touch. The Settlers Museum in Atkins, Virginia is simple, beautiful, authentic, and takes you back in a time warp. I strongly encourage visitors to tour the place, and leave a donation worthy of keeping it alive.

An absolutely amazing restoration of American history and the passion invested into this museum is…read moreevident. It is a true hidden gem in the most beautiful section of mountains along the Appalachian Trail.

A hidden gem! This is a terrific local museum that's associated with the Smithsonian. Located in…read morethe center of Bristol with plenty of parking. The people that work in this museum are absolutely incredible. They are beyond helpful, friendly, and attentive. Super knowledgeable as well. You can tell they love their city and enjoy their job. Come to. Wet some super nice people and see an awesome collection from the Bristol Sessions. The museum is very informative and has some interesting history and some great displays. There's a 15 minute video in a super comfortable theater that gives you the background of the museum. There was a gentleman that works there that was chatting before the film and he was a wealth of knowledge. There's a great store with some treasures and a special exhibit area. Super fun day and super cheap to come. Check them out!!

We're in town for the 2026 Bristol rhythm and roots reunion. This museum was amazing. He must see…read moreif you're in Bristol. And an absolute must see if you come in for the rhythm and roots reunion. Easy to find handy parking. The museum is on two floors. There were plenty of volunteers present to answer questions. Many had their own personal stories, which was great. The entire collection is well curated and very well produced. I found it to be absolutely fantastic. I grew up on Bluegrass and country music and knew a lot of the history already, but it was really interesting to see the instruments and hear the first recordings of the Bristol sessions. Just a fantastic place. They do have a small gift shop downstairs that sells various items a lot made by local artisans. Everything was pretty appropriately priced. If you were coming in the Bristol, this is a must see.

The building does not seem like a museum, and indeed appears to be used for multiple purposes,…read moreincluding criminal legal proceedings and Red Cross training, as far as I could tell. But the fourth floor does hold this museum, which is not huge but does comprise several rooms. I was offered a tour with the warning that this could take minutes or hours. Unlike most visitors, I was not primarily interested in the Hatfield-McCoy feud, but the history of medicine in the area. This topic does get one bit of hallway to itself. My tour guide wasn't really knowledgeable on the history of osteopathic medicine (which would be a big ask, frankly), but did have plenty of anecdotes about the area. Other topical rooms covered all sorts of local history. The Hatfield-McCoy exhibit is front and center, but there is definitely more than that to be discussed. It isn't fancy, but I didn't feel bad about spending $5 and some of my time here, and I left with a little piece of coal they offer as a souvenir.

Has Native American artifacts found in the Big Sandy area A…read morenice collection of civil war items. Also. A large collection of Hatfield McCoy feud items. Also exhibits on railroads, country music, cultural education, coal mining z educat I on and politics.

Wow! Just WOW! I'm sure glad we didn't miss this in our travels. The museum is a huge private…read morecollection of American history (and some other stuff) in the most intriguing mansion being lovingly restored by the owners. We had the private museum tour (well worth it to learn the history behind all the artifacts and the mansion). We did a paranormal investigation night with the folks from Haunted Night Experience and the Wraith Chasers and serval other professional paranormal investigators. Then, Dinner with a ghost our last night. It was one of the best experiences of my life. (I would drive the 17 hours for that dinner...YUM!). Lots of amazing paranormal activity was experienced and the pros were so awesome in showing us what they do, how they investigate, how they separate the electrical and radio interference from the actual activity and why they do what they do. We drove from central TX to VA for this event and it was well worth it. Even just visiting the museum is worth the stop if you are ever in the area of Wytheville, VA. It's a cute little town too.