Presiding over Main Street in the small town of Madison, just a few miles from the place where coal was first discovered in West Virginia, the long and storied history of the West Virginia coal industry is preserved for posterity at the Bituminous Coal Heritage Museum.

Back in rugged Boone County, the very heart of Appalachian coal country, the Coal Heritage Museum presents a saga that first began here and grew to span four centuries and the toil of countless individuals.
The Coal Heritage Museum
It was in modern-day Boone County near the town of Peytona where the explorer John Peter Salley first discovered coal back in 1742; to this day, Boone County is still one of West Virginia’s top coal producing counties.
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The museum explores this rich coal mining legacy through an array of historic artifacts, photos, artwork, and interactive exhibits.
The Coal Heritage Museum
Run by the Bituminous Coal Heritage Foundation, the museum presents the complete history of coal mining from ancient to modern times in a thoughtful, well-organized manner. Helpful and knowledgeable staff will go out of their way to explain and guide you through the museum exhibits.
You can browse a recreated company store, explore a model of a miner’s home, and use replica mining tools to relive the old-time mining experience in a model coal mine, as well as view thousands of mining tools, instruments, gear, and other artifacts.
The Coal Heritage Museum

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The hard and sometimes tragic lives of the coal miners and their families come alive with the museum’s poignant memorials and artifacts related to mining disasters and labor uprisings.
The Coal Heritage Museum
It is no exaggeration to say that West Virginia’s coal miners changed the course of our entire country.
This is not a detached piece of history for the locals of Boone County and surrounding areas; the lives of the majority of the residents in these parts have been deeply intertwined with the coal industry.
The Coal Heritage Museum
None of the museum’s 20,000 artifacts were purchased; every one of them was donated by mine workers.
The Coal Heritage Museum
Admission to the Coal Heritage Museum is free. This museum is an essential experience for visitors to understand the history and culture of this region of the state.
The Coal Heritage Museum
When you visit, be sure to visit the arts center next door, which features exhibits from local and regional artists.

Have you ever toured the Coal Heritage Museum in Madison, West Virginia? What was one thing you learned during your visit about the history of coal in West Virginia? While you’re in Boone County learning about bituminous coal, you should also take the time to visit this under-rated but absolutely beautiful waterfall located nearby!

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Bituminous Coal Heritage Foundation Museum, 347 Main St, Madison, WV 25130, USA