July 18, 2026 - Local kids got a glimpse into an industry upon which the Mountain State was built at a recent event with the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine.

Fayette County students and members of the public toured the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and heard from experts in the industry. Presenters detailed how coal is formed and how the industry has helped to shape the cultural identity of the state.

Organizers said it is important to remember how critical coal-powered energy has been not only to West Virginia but to the nation as a whole.

“We’re very pleased to be able to offer these programs at the Exhibition Coal Mine and the Youth Museum,” said City of Beckley Parks and Recreation Director Leslie Baker. “Our mission is all about education whether it be through all kinds of things at the Youth Museum or our coal heritage and all that we can put out about how important our coal was to the development of this country.”

Staff with the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine also offer underground tours of the historic Phillips-Sprauge Mine. Experienced miners guide guests through the mines passages and provide firsthand accounts of how coal is mined, and how the industry has evolved over the past century.