BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine has been recognized as one of the top 10% of attractions globally on TripAdvisor.
As focal points of Beckley’s New River Park, the Exhibition Coal Mine, the Rahall Company Store, Mine Museum and the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia draw thousands of visitors each year.
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The underground mine tour, recreated coal camp, Youth Museum and Mountain Homestead are surrounded by lawns, flowers, picnic areas, a coal miner statue and a 20-foot “Peace Totem.”
Visitors can ride through the dark passages of a vintage coal mine guided by veteran miners who share firsthand accounts of life and work in the mines.
The grounds also feature the Mine Museum and a period coal camp.
Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Beckley Leslie Baker commented on the recognition.
“That is based on the coal miners that are actual coal miners that work for us so they give authentic voice and an authentic life to the history that we interpret here,” Baker said.
“The Smithsonian has [also] been here to do some type of evaluation, and were absolutely blown away, so you know, sometimes we just don’t actually appreciate what’s in our own backyard,” she added.
