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.

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.

Ralph Stanley could quite possibly be the greatest artist in the history of mountain/bluegrass…read moremusic. And his museum in Clintwood, VA does him the justice he so richly deserves. Beautifully done, in a classically restored centuries-old mansion. The displays are impeccable. Extremely thorough with hundreds of relics and artifacts from all periods of Dr. Stanley's career. A fabulous gift shop as well. My family and I loved this place!

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.

Delightful and Unexpected:…read more My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum. We pass it every other year on our Ohio/Pennsylvania vacations, and we always joke about visiting. This year we decided to give it go. We were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed Wolf Creek. The staff is super friendly and our tour guide was exceptionally educated on the site, and you could easily tell that she enjoyed her job. This is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to spend 2 to 3 hours and learn fascinating Native American history

Saturday, April 20th, 2024 (Earth Day Weekend) Showed up…read morelate afternoon so guided tours were over but self guided tour and indoor museum available however we just shopped at the gift shop. The staff were very friendly, professional, knowledgeable, eager to help and had answers for any and all questions. The pottery was stunning, the book selection was great, fun gifts, cool collectible items, handmade jewelry etc We highly recommend this experience to any and all

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.

We had a great experience on the mining tour in Beckley! I was born and raised in West Virginia, so…read morecoal 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!

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!!

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!!

Wonderfully told story of how the blues, bluegrass, gospel, etc..forged into what we now call…read morecountry music. Carefully curated, super interactive, small enough to manage in an hour or two but vast enough to jump start your deep dive into our "hillbilly" musical past. A must see if you are in the Bristol, VA area. Staff was helpful and friendly as well.