This was hands-down the highlight of our entire trip! If you're anywhere near Beckley, WV, you HAVE to 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. read more

I was debating about whether or not to visit, as I was afraid it might be a simulation experience. 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. read more

We had a great experience on the mining tour in Beckley! I was born and raised in West Virginia, so coal has always been part of our history--but I had never actually been inside a mine before. This was such a unique way to experience it firsthand. Our tour guide, Tony, really made the tour. He was incredibly knowledgeable and added a lot of humor, which kept things interesting the entire time. You ride through the mine on a cart that's pulled along, and while you don't get off during the tour, he stops a few times to share stories and information. If you're extremely claustrophobic, it might not be for you--but personally, I didn't find it too bad at all. The whole facility is really well done. There's a gift shop, drinks, restrooms, and a museum inside the depot. Outside, there are several historic buildings and houses you can walk through, and they're all accessible with ramps. Parking is easy and right on site. Overall, it's a really neat experience and a great way to learn more about an important part of West Virginia's history. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

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This is an excellent stop for the whole family. With all kinds of activities nearby. We enjoyed the playgrounds across the street, hiking fitness trail, museums, excellent restrooms and more. The one thing we wanted to do was the underground coal tour. We were just too late. Next time. The group coming out told us it was awesome. We spoke with the guide who explained how deep it goes. We can't wait to try it. read more

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I was really disappointed in our visit here. We started planning this trip months ago but I could not find the information I needed and didn't receive an answer when I called. I tried emailing the director to see if I could get some information and clarification for our visit and I never heard back. We started traveling a few weeks later and because we have been delayed a couple of times when we arrived, exhibition was closed for the season. The building is small and I've posted photos of all the information outside, which isn't much. It's really a shame I can't tell you more about the mine itself, but I can say with confidence that communication and customer service can definitely be improved. read more

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This was a very informative exhibition. There was a coal mine tour, multiple houses from a nearby coal camp to view, a small museum and a child's museum. The staff were very knowledgeable and kind. Specifically, Dorsel gave a fantastic tour of the mine and Bebe and Gail shared some great information about the homes they were stationed in and the families that would have lived there. read more

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We are so disappointed! I only made it as far as the gift shop, walked in the door and was there less than a minute and was treated really badly over my sevice dog. The lady even went so far as to tell me that she wasn't a service dog. I told her that I had paperwork I could show her, and she asserted to me that a real sevice dog didn't need paperwork. My dog wears a tag and it tells that she is a PTSD service dog. Of course, posted on the door was a decal saying service dogs were welcome, but we did not feel the least bit welcome. I had family in from Alabama and they specifically wanted to go there. We would have spent quite a bit of money. I will not bring anyone back to this place in the future, and I will tell everyone I know to avoid this place. The lady I encountered there was just so excessively rude to the point that I told her she didn't need to be a bitch, and that I would just leave. In all reality, I should sue the Exhibition Coal Mine because my dog is legal according to the ADA, and I, nor anyone else should not be treated that way. read more

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A truly unique experience. It's hard to describe, but it's an immense, incredibly detailed mining camp. You can easily knock out several hours hearing about the history of each individual building and the roles that would have been filled by various mining camp personnel from the extremely knowledgeable staff. All topped off with a cart trip that takes you to a point where you are under well over a 100 feet of earth, and you get to see what "pitch black" really means. Well worth the trip. read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - Front of building - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

One thing that West Virginia is known for is coal mines. Back in the day when West Virginia was known for their coal mines, and they depended on coal and marrying manufacturing of it, be the bloodline of their economy. During my trip to Beckley, West Virginia, I got interesting and unique experience by visiting a coal mine, which has been closed for a while, but they give tours during the year. I just happen to be in the area and there was a local area school tour that happened to be there that day. So my friend and I quickly joined that tour. We arrived here at around 10:30 AM and saw maybe 15 to 20 school age kids along with their chaperones. We thought it was pretty cool to see school kids learning about coal mines. I am also wanting to learn about coal mine too because everything that I know about it came from books school. Also, from various movies and television shows on the last 40 years of my life. It was pretty cool to actually see it close to end then up in person. And so, we followed the group of kids into the Beckley working coal mine and started learning about the exhibition coal mine, history of the area, and how the coal mining history had its boom times and its eventual decline particularly in West Virginia. It was an interesting history that was sad when hearing of its decline. Still, coal mining was something that was hard work for the average American person and many miners have died over the 20th century. It was a surreal experience to hear the depressing news of the cool mining industry as a whole - from the beginnings to the eventual end. Definitely brings a spotlight to those who have came for us and gave their lives to the industry. If you're ever in the area and would like to experience what coal mining is all about, consider coming to the Beckley exhibition, coal mine and see what actual coal mining experience can teach you about everyday life back in the early 1900s. And how middle class life was like prior to that as well. The overall experience here at the Beckley exhibition, coal mine here in Beckley, West Virginia was definitely unique. It was a nice tourist attraction for anybody, and everybody who wants to know about coal mining, its history, and why it's not as prevalent as it is today. The tour took about 45 minutes, from start to finish, the ending was a trip to the gift shop to mine itself was very fascinating and it was neat to be inside one. Who win though it wasn't a functioning working coal mine, it was very real and very much served as the real thing for educational and historical purposes. After looking at the exhibits and seeing how the coal miners did their thing every day, I could see how the hard life these miners lived. It was like completely different than what I am used to these days and with modern conditions that could make or break you on any given day. After we got a nice tour of inside the exhibition coal mine, we got to tour the houses that were built for the miners and their families. The houses were built around the mind shaft. Some were smaller than other others and of course the largest one in the community was that of the coal mine owner. It looked largest compared to the smaller worker ones. There's also ones that were built for solo workers, who had to commute weekly from home. They would stay for a week and go home for the weekend. Life wasn't as difficult as it is now but with limited resources and technology at the time, it was hard and difficult. For the most part though, the Beckley Expedition Coal Mine was one of the highlights of my trip to Beckley, West Virginia. If you're interested in coal mining history and in the West Virginia area, consider coming down to the Beckley Expedition Coal Mine. The Beckley Expedition Coal Mine is one place that could wow you as well as make you want to see more of history's hidden gems. It definitely wow'ed me and hopefully it will dazzle you too. Come on down. The Beckley Expedition Coal Mine is located in Beckley, West Virginia. It's physically located at 513 Ewart Avenue in Beckley. They accept major credit cards as well as cash. As far as parking goes, they have a generous parking lot space for anyone and everyone who wishes to park here and enjoy learning about the coal mine and its history. Best bet would be to come here early enough to secure a good parking spot before the crowds get in. You're better off driving in with your own car or rent one because Beckley has very limited regional public transportation options, if at all. Or better yet, have a friend ride with you and y'all can save money on time and gas. And then, there's uber or Lyft at your convenience as well. if you enjoy history of West Virginia and want to explore more of the coal mining industry, consider coming to Beckley and check out the museum here. You'll be amazed at how preserved everything is around here. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+ read more

What an awesome place with the most friendly people! Honestly, the kindness of folks I met in this state, combined with its natural beauty and low cost of living has me considering moving here. But let's not get ahead of myself ... The overall time I spent here was 3 hours! There were wonderful guides in many of the places you'll see that were rich in knowledge of just about everything! I honestly was not expecting to learn as much as I did and let me tell you: I left beyond grateful for the life we live today versus then! Wowza! Gail, Nancy, and one other younger gentleman (no name tag visible) were the 3 people that walked me through some of the buildings, filling my head with history. All of the buildings were moved there either in whole, partially dismantled, or wholly dismantled and put back together. They are original school houses, homes, blacksmiths shops, etc. (Some slight modifications only for safety purposes). It was absolutely incredible! The coal mine tour was one-of-a-kind! Every operator/tour guide is someone who worked in the mines. Ours (I regret that I forget his name) worked in them for 29 years. You will ride in a cart and stop at 3 locations. Yes, it is cold in there! And you'll be down there maybe 40 minutes or so, so bring layers for warmth! I couldn't believe everything I learned down there. I knew about dangerous conditions. But I always thought men took the risk because the money was good. Yikes ... those people lived in debted to the owners and worked their tales off for those debts. I'm glad our countries has the rules and regulations (and unions if you're lucky) that it does today. I will say no more as I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Inside the main entrance, there is a museum upstairs and a gift shop down stairs. I cannot recommend the fudge enough! I got a little of each and YUM! Great stop for tourists and locals alike to learn about our history over the last 150 years. read more

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This tour is fantastic! A great break from the heat of summer as the mine is rather cool, and you get to ride through the mine in a tour cart!! The tours are led by coal miners, and the detail is fantastic! In addition to the mine, you get to tour a coal camp, youth museum (definitely kid focus!) and a mock pioneer settlement, with buildings relocated from other sites and brought to this location! You can walk in the buildings and get a look into the past! There's a coal museum in the visitor center as well!! Definitely must do if you are in the area! read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - Bolts to hold the rock wall together and prevent collapse - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

Interesting tour to learn about the area and some coal mining history. Loved hearing some of the personal stories of our tour guide who was a former coal miner himself. Did not like the talk about god and prayers. read more

I've been twice the first time was in 2022 and I had a great time it was very informational and interesting and I would like to add both times everyone but 1 person was nothing but kind and if not for the 1 person who wasn't id have given this place a raving 5 star review but on my second visit on our tour of the mine we had a different tour guide from the very start he made us feel unwelcome because of our young daughter who was excited to be on this coal ride with her whole family but we tried I get her to calm down as best we could and took it as him being concerned for her because of the claustrophobic nature of the ride but after entering the old mine at the first stop he stopped mid presentation to tell me and my wife "can you keep her quite" and I'll be the first to admit she can be a bit much but she wasn't crying when she gets excited she has a tendency to kind of screech in excitement we were already clearly trying to get her to calm down for the sake of the other group that was with us but she was happy. it was so embarrassing and I felt horrible he continued the ride and when I asked a question, he said in a very rude voice "I'll explain that later just wait" I wasn't trying to be rude I was just curious and I had waited to ask until he asked if anyone had any questions, I felt awful the whole ride feeling like I ruined the experience for the other group and I continued to feel that way until we had gotten to the parking lot and I overheard the other group say to themselves that they "really liked him until he to that baby to shut up" and then I knew that I wasn't just being petty about it he had been rude and the other group later told me that she hadn't bothered them at all in fact they had found her very cute and that they had picked up on his attitude towards my daughter from the very beginning like we had and that his behavior was the only thing that had ruined it for them I wish I remembered his name but I don't I would still recommend going its very interesting and insightful however if you think the tour guide is being rude to your child your probably not just imagining it read more

Between the mining tour and the houses/exhibitions, this was absolutely worth the time and money! Exceptionally informative and the people/staff were super friendly. read more

I remember coming to this place on a field trip in middle school and I remember truly loving it! The tour is incredible (enough so that I have remembered it for going on ten years), and I remember LOVING the gift shop, it is wonderful for younger teens or kids. The people who work there are wonderful. read more

The story needs to be told about how poorly workers were treated around 100 years ago and how they had the courage to unionize. This is more than just a coal mine your. They set up a replica coal mining company town. The old church and school were my favorites. The pictured guide was awesome. read more

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First of all, Don was the absolute BEST tour guide of the coal mine. He was so interactive and upbeat plus displayed a strong faith in God. The ticket price includes the mine tour plus all the house tours, youth center and museum. Such a great pit stop on our road trip! Only a couple miles off Route 77. Totally recommend. read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - Don the tour guide - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

This is a must do when in the area. We toured the entire site, showing how the coal miners lived and worked. It was an incredibly tough life for these guys. And what little they made was needed to pay for everything they needed from "the company store." If you do stop here, do the underground portion as well to really get a feel of how they spent 12 hours a day. read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

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Great tour guides! The experience and knowledge makes the experience even better! Being able to go into a former coal mine and see just how hard miners worked for so little is very humbling. read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - A wonderful tour guide - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

Very cool place to go. You can walk thru a coal camp and ride through an actual coal mine. The tour guide we had, Mike, was a retired miner and was obviously very knowledgeable. He was a great tour guide. On the grounds was an old school as well as some other buildings to explore. Schoolhouse rules were great. read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

Curt was a great tour guide! Nice to get extra time to talk with him after the tour as well. Short ride into the former mine to see different things. Good for families and to appreciate those who have had to work in the mines under hard conditions. read more

This was an incidental stop for us as we passed through WV. The coal mine tour led by Don was the best! Don is energetic and fun! He had great energy on the tour, made it interesting and told jokes! read more

Our guide, Dorsel, was amazing! He used to work in the mines himself and he is VERay knowledgeable about how the mines were run and how the men were treated, etc. the ride into the old mine was so much fun, and I felt safe the entire time. Everything was very well presented and well put together. Highly recommend! read more

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Chauncey was very knowledgeable and gave a great tour !!! I am here visiting from Arizona and enjoyed the tour !

A must experience if you're in the Beckley area! We flew in from California for a wedding along with a ton of others from every nook and cranny of the United States. We all agreed this was such a cool immersive activity. You'll go into a formerly active coal mine where a tour guide will explain the history of the industry, how the coal was mined previously and how it's done today. Beware, this probably isn't a great idea if you suffer from claustrophobia. It's a legit mine so be prepared for total darkness when they turn out the lights. Thankfully, they only do it for a quick second to show you what it really looks like in the depths of the earth where zero sunlight reaches. read more

On our Fallout76 tour through WV, Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine was on the list since it's a frequent lace we visit in the video game. When we arrived, we noticed immediately how spacious and well kept the grounds were. There were plenty of parking spots up front. We went inside to purchase tour tickets and bought a few souvenirs. There were a decent amount of trinkets and candies and I ended up getting a magnet and train whistle (for funsies). When we were called to our mining cart, we were greeted by Don, the most amazing tour guide ever! He made this entire visit to be a memorable, informative, and excited one. Not only did we have a fun time, we learned quite a bit on our tour as well. Everything was well maintained and clean. Every employee we encountered at Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine was an absolute delight. Superb customer service and employees that came off as genuine and kind. Highly recommend a visit through the mines!! read more

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This was an unexpected gem. Not to be missed if you're in the area. The trip into the coal mine was awesome. Very informative guide - retired coal miner. Lots of amazing stories and great information. The little upstairs museum is interesting also. We toured a couple of the houses too. The thing not to miss is the mine. read more

The coal mine tour was great! Our guide Dorsal was amazing! He was very knowledgeable, he is retired from the coal mine so he gave life experience info...FANTASTIC!! Highly recommend! read more

Amazing place! Stopped on our way to Michigan. Loved it! Take the time to stop here you won't be disappointed. Very interesting exhibit on the lives of coal miners. read more

Our tour guide was phenomenal! I believe his name was Dan B. He was so engaging and friendly and we learned so many facts. The property itself us gorgeous and we visited the gift shop, the museum and the log cabins after the tour. We wanted to get our $22 per person worth! Very worth your time if you are near Beckley! Bring a light jacket, the mine is 58°. Plenty of parking and clean restrooms. The gift shop fudge is delicious - side note! read more

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Lots of good personal stories from retired coal miners who are now the tour guides. .........................

Excellent tour showing a little about how one mined coal in the history of the coal mining industry. I know that it is more complex today but it gives you some perspective and appreciation for those who chose this profession. Thank you to all of those who mined coal to support your families. read more

What an amazing place to spend time!!! A "mine settlement completely rebuilt at the entrance to a mine. All of the buildings are authentic and most moved here from other mine settlements. Each building can be toured at your leisure. There's a church, school house, bachelor's quarters, superintendents house and a four room family house. There is also a museum on the second floor of the "company store" gift shop. So much to see and so much history packed in the place. Then the coup de grace! The mine tour. The tour guides are retired miners and trust me when I say they know what they're talking about! Our guide was Don And what an amazing talent! He engaged everyone from 4 years old to 74. He was informative, funny and held everyone's attention throughout the tour. If you are near the New River Gorge, you have to see this little gem hidden in Beckley, WV - so worth the time. read more

Definitely a must see. How cool to go into a real coal mine and your tour guide used to work in when it was operational!! read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

Loved the tour! Our guide was awesome and we loved hearing the information from someone who had worked in a coal mine 25+ years. Everyone was very friendly and made the visit very enjoyable. I would like to return at some point with my grandkids. read more

We absolutely loved this attraction and would highly recommend for ages elementary to retirement. It's very informative, fun and our guide was very entertaining. My favorite part is the train into the mine and leaning the history and how it all worked. They also have a amazing kids museum that was fun for adults as well. read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - Our amazing guide inside the mine - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

We were driving to the Midwest from Virginia to visit friends, and we decided to stop at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. We had a full day of driving, so a break of a couple hours was welcome. The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine advertised as a trip into a former working Coal mine, and that's exactly what it was. Now, there are two kinds of Coal mines. A shaft Mine uses a vertical shaft going deep underground. A drift mine uses a horizontal shaft that tunnels into a mountain. Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is a drift Mine. You board a trolley, maybe 20 people in all. The mine you tour was a working Coal mine, until it was made into an Exhibition Mine. Our guide was a gentleman that had been a working Coal miner for over 40 years. He really knew what it was like working in the mines. We had a great time. After the mine tour, we toured the Coal mining town. The had numerous houses, a school, and other buildings that had been an actual Coal mining town until they were moved to Beckley. It was fascinating, and very realistic. You really saw how miners and their families lived. They also had a children's building with many interesting activities kids would love. We spent 3 hours at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and it was time well spent. read more

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine - Front of the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. - Museums Near Me - Beckley, West Virginia

This was a really cool tour. We were camping at Summersville lake and had some questionable weather, so we went to Beckley. This tour takes you into an old mine and some small rail type cars and shows you what it was like to work in there. Our tour guide was Mike and he did a great job There is also historical buildings that have been brought there to show what coal miner conditions were at the time along with how the mine Supt. lived... Definitely worth the trip! read more

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Very good place for a field trip or something. They have a little gift shop, old mining stuff, and the expedition coal mine. Very beautiful place to visit during Christmas/winter, they typically have lights and a little plastic skating rink. The actual coal mine was really interesting to go in. You had someone to explain and teach you about the stuff you would find in a coal mine. The coal mine was very low( like you'd expect). So if you are very tall I wouldn't recommend going in the coal mine. They had a bunch of old mining stuff on the second floor. Worth a visit, would recommend. read more

I'm a coal miners granddaughter. Not just any coal miner...one who helped make conditions better for the entire community. My grandfather helped bring a labor union to this industry when survival depended on it. I know what eventually happened with labor unions. I watched the world change...from union organizer, to Federal Mediator (dad) to union buster (brother) I loved this tour. I learned so much about mining, both before and after unions. And I have never been so proud of my heritage. If you find yourself in this corner of the world please allow time to educate yourself on this life. You'll have a new respect for workers everywhere. read more

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