June 19, 2026 - A sixth-generation coal miner from Cabin Creek who went on to lead one of the nation’s most recognizable labor unions is now being celebrated with a museum in his honor in Charleston, WV.

Cecil Roberts, who served as the international president of the United Mine Workers of America for the past 30 years before announcing his retirement last year, was honored during the grand opening of the Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Museum at the UMWA District 17 headquarters along Kanawha Boulevard.

Roberts began his career working underground and then worked his way up through the ranks of the union, building a six-decade career in the labor movement. He retired in 2025 after spending his career fighting for the safety and health of miners and laborers across the country.

The new, one-of-a-kind exhibit features historical photographs and personal pieces that highlight the scope of Roberts’ career and his long-running work within the labor movement.

According to the museum’s website, the Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Museum should be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

WCHS spoke to Roberts in 2025 ahead of his retirement for the documentary, The Legacy of Blair Mountain.