i enjoyed, its simple, you get to actually walk thru the house. there are a lot of people in this…read morecountry that need to see how a lot of people once lived. infract there still are people that do.

Deep down in the Holler of Kentucky is where you will be!…read more We were on the motorcycle and it was raining so the road was wet and slick. Stopped at the General Store and the gentleman that was there was so nice and answered any questions. Rode back to where Loretta Lynn's home place was and such beautiful scenery. Wasn't able to go inside the hone as it hadn't opened up yet due to Covid but was able to get some good photos from the road. If you are on a bike, there is a gravel spot where we parked/turned around. Was told if you go back further that it's a dead need and hard to get turned around. We enjoyed our ride through here and now know why it called the "Holler"

I made a trip down to Charleston with my gold fish's Siberian husky and enjoyed every moment of it…read more My brain was starving for a history lesson, though, so I went downtown to the Culture Center and ballooned it with some of the most interesting facts I've ever heard about the Capitol Building(s). The museum is free, which is a plus. I couldn't bring the dog in though, so cracked the windows and put on some Baha Men for him. I also walked upstairs, looked at the displays and was instantly greeted by a fine young man with a vibrant smile and excellent hair. What a great surprise. The car was gone.

I was in town for work and my flight didn't leave till 6 so I had lots of time to explore the…read moremuseum. Love how you start millions of years ago and progress to modern age. Each room is full of artifacts and information for each era. Easily you could spend a full day looking and exploring everything. And the best part is it's free!

I'd like to know what this place has about federal mine inspector Bill Spradlin. He was my…read moregrandfather.

My family and I stopped here on our way to see the homeplace of Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle. We…read moreopted to stop at the museum. It close to closing time but they were nice to give a tour. It was only $5 per person and there was three of us. This place is located out in the middle of no where. Not enough advertisement on the place. If in the area, stop by and check them out.

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.

If you want to tour Loretta Lynn's original home in Van Lear, Kentucky you must stop by Webb's…read moregrocery, pay a $5 entry fee, and follow the tour guide in your car a mile or so to the home. The young man that runs the store is a distant relative of Loretta Lynn. But for folks in this community this store is one of the only stores within many miles of their home. He has a few Loretta Lynn's souvenirs such as t-shirts and magnets. But there is also canned goods, soda, and water for sale. The store is very old and was a railroad company store when it was originally built. I believe he told me it was around a 125 years old. He has done a great job of keeping this place up as it did not have that old smell that you find in a lot of places. Of course you will also find a ton of Loretta Lynn memorabilia throughout the store as well as other older relics of times past, such as an old Pepsi clock, soda bottles and signs. It was a quaint old store that takes you back to simple yet tough times for many Americans in the late 1800s to early 1900's. I loved it!

A true little country store with a huge history. Lots of Loretta Lynn memorabilia to view, and…read moresome souvenirs available for purchase. If you're planning on touring Loretta's homestead, get your ticket here. (Tour is conducted by Loretta's family members, and is FABULOUS!) Between the store and the homestead you can see what's left of the actual coal mine her daddy worked at. In a world of new & improved construction, this is a place that will make your heart smile.

I spent about 2 hours here with my kids on a Sunday and they had a good time…read more The main floor has a water table area that the kids loved, a music room and an area to learn about your body. The body area had some sport activities that the kids enjoyed interacting with. The lower level had a travel wild kratts exhibit that we did not spend much time at, the climbing area, and an interactive city where we spent most of our time. On the top floor there is an art museum with some hands on play area for the kids. They also were able to paint with water colors. Parking was across the street from the building so easy to get to. They did have a cafe but the food was mediocre. I recommend eating before or after your trip.

On a day trip to Charleston WV we stopped by the Clay Center for our daughter. First I always judge…read morethe bathrooms as this is a perfect example of how clean a place is. They have male and female but always love to see a family bathroom so I am not fighting for my life when my kid needs to potty. It was very clean and well kept but we did go as soon as they opened. 5 out of 5 This place is 3 stories tall they do have different options stairs and 2 different elevators to help anyone explore all locations. Play options: They have a waterworks the roof does leak but they have over covers for kids to protect their clothing over all a nice water station. 3.5 out of 5 Outer space was quite lackluster and not very play forward more informative 2 out of 5 One place we loved and spent most of our time was the interactive village too cute!!! Vet, Dr, theater, mechanic, grocery store, garden, fire pit, and so much more this is by far the highlight! 5 out of 5 They did have an open and active maker space with many different options for crafts! 5 out of 5 They do have a cafe with options of food you can buy so you can play longer. 5 out of 5 The front desk was so kind and very helpful with any questions we may have had. But I wasn't sure about parking if it was free or if we had to pay. When calling back I didn't get an answer. 3 out of 5 Last but not least the price for 2 kids and 3 adults total was under $60 and when leaving for lunch we could came back to play some more. So with that it was very worth the money! 5 out of 5 Over all experience: 4 out of 5

A surprisingly well-executed ensemble, the museum and coal mine tour (most recommended) manage to…read morerecreate much of the history and feel of what it was like to live in the unimaginably cloistered world of a coal mine and camp. The museum has several fine displays, including a re-creation of a typical coal miner's home, an excellent collection of the equipment miners used, to maps, knick-knacks, and memorials. The upper floor's ode to Loretta Lynn is a disjointed effort that is heavy on schmaltz. Skip it. Stick with the lower two floors to optimize your visit. The real star of the show is the trip inside the mountain via Portal 31 aboard a small mine train. Note: If you are even the slightest bit claustrophobic, you may want to reconsider this part of the visit, as the tour goes approximately 3/4 of a mile inside the mountain through dark tunnels. Even of you are a native of SE Kentucky, there is no shame in feeling at least somewhat nervous about entering a mine. However, the tour is safe, well led, and there are quality animatronics, TV screens, and audio sections that keep you connected to civilization. Keep in mind that the size of the mine tunnel is much, much larger than the ones miners generally entered. Relatively speaking, this trip is a breeze. Do not skip the delicious coffee shop across the street from Portal 31 in Lynch. The quality is terrific and the owners are very knowledgable about the history of Lynch.

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.

The WV Mine Wars Museum is a great spot to visit in the area for some updates on local coal mining…read morehistory. They have done an amazing job at putting the museum together and its clear that everyone involved has poured their heart into the town. Keep up the great work !

$5 entrance fee. Small, but interesting display of artifacts with a timeline of events from shortly…read morebefore WW1 through 1940s. Worth the entrance price.

So interesting to see how people that are now famous began. It's so interesting, and I learned her…read moresister is Crystal Gayle

I loved the view of her amazing life. Her niece was a doll. I loved the whole experience. Sadly,…read moreLoretta passed away 10 days after we visited her home.