This Main Street museum houses four floors of exhibit space relating the history of area mining and the mining families of the early 20th century through the famous 'company store.' Highlights include a specially-cut two-ton block of coal that stands outside the museum building, and children can climb a 1940s-model electrive locomotive which was used to haul miners inside the mine. Excellent visuals and fossil displays detail the coal-formation process; a collection of historic photographs and mining tools and diagrams are also included.
Recent renovations include an actual underground mine tour at Portal 31; the museum's third floor now houses some of the personal collection of Loretta Lynn, 'The Coal Miner's Daughter.' Large groups, tours should call ahead. Open daily; closed holidays.
