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!

The friendly staff and tour ways perfect for all ages. The info signs along the way helped. We…read moreenjoyed the gift shop and did the gem mining before leaving.

I am a big fan of caves/caverns so when I see one when I am traveling I try to stop if I can…read more While in West Virginia we were fairly close to Lost Word so we made the stop. The grounds are nice and have places to picnic and there are llamas. There is a gift shop and that is where you enter and exit and get your tickets. The caverns are pretty neat. Not super large or difficult to walk. Just be warned that there can be large school groups that could impact your 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!!

Great small museum. Stumbled on it while looking for another museum. (Look for the tank right…read moredowntown, it is next door.) The museum is upstairs in a stately government building. There's a Jeep in the lobby, and exhibits around the hall upstairs, plus a memorial room across the hall with memorials for each war the area's residents have fought and died in. The museum itself is full of artifacts donated by local veterans and their families. Very interesting items, nicely displayed. It is small, but you could easily spend an hour perusing all the displays. Well worth a visit if you live anywhere nearby, or are going down nearby I-77 and have any interest in history. I believe it is open weekday afternoons, closed during the winter months (but the janitor graciously let me in once I explained my interest.)

Such a nice museum. A little bit of everything and great assortment of dinosaur fossils. Would…read morenever had expected this in Martinsville. Took our Grandson and he really enjoyed it. Also was able to get a free day pass for all of us at the library

Awesome Attractions with the Life size replicas of the Animals, the Dinosaurs and We took some…read moreamazing photos. My Client really enjoyed Himself, We were also Greeted by such a Wonderful Staff, It was my first time Ever entering the Museum and I really enjoyed it too. I've been back several times and My Client and I are planning on visiting again. He's invited His family to come down from Christiansburg and they did, They too enjoyed it and purchased a lot of things which made my client very happy because He was the beneficiary of all the items.

Bluefield's most precious gem! Full of well made eccentric art with plenty of interactive…read moreexperiences for all ages. The people that run this are the kindest you will ever meet.

A Very eclectic museum called the Thin Dime Museum or The Ramsey school has been started in an old…read moreschool in Bluefield, WV. Fortunately I called ahead to set up a tour (205-5404754) because they are only open Saturday 11-4. What a gem in local history and artists. They had just opened a section on "Wheels" by George T Anderson, Jr on the history of wheels brought to life with hand carved and handmade examples throughout time. There was a native American section with more arrowheads than I have ever seen collected. A 2 seater outhouse and an African-American musician section. Loads of local history and so many other sections to see. We were there almost 2 hours and you could easily spend more time if you wanted. If you are looking for a unique experience this is the place to go!

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.