Kentucky Coal Mining Museum
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum is heritage center located in Benham
, Kentucky
. Its focus is the history of the coal industry in Eastern Kentucky
, featuring specific exhibits on the company towns of Benham and neighboring Lynch
. It is housed in a former company store
that was built by International Harvester
in 1923. In June 1990, the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce purchased the building for the future site of the museum. After receiving additional grants from the state of Kentucky, the museum opened in May 1994.
The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum features exhibits on a miner's home, a company hospital, commissary, and school; engineering, coal sampling, a mock mine tour and the Loretta Lynn "Coal Miner's Daughter" exhibit. In 2009, the museum began to coordinate tours of the nearby Portal 31 Mine, which opened in 1917. The thirty-minute tour of the mine involves eight stops that chronologically depict a different era in coal mining, ranging from the 1910s to present-day.
. Portal 31 is open Tuesday-Saturday (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) eastern time and is closed during the winter months.
Benham, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 599 people, 248 households, and 181 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,519.2 people per square mile . There were 288 housing units at an average density of 730.4 per square mile...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Its focus is the history of the coal industry in Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Mountain Coal Fields
The Eastern Mountain Coal Fields is part of the Central Appalachian bituminous coal field, covering all or parts of 30 Kentucky counties and adjoining areas in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. It covers an area from the Allegheny Mountains in the east across the Cumberland Plateau and...
, featuring specific exhibits on the company towns of Benham and neighboring Lynch
Lynch, Kentucky
There were 408 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone...
. It is housed in a former company store
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
that was built by International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
in 1923. In June 1990, the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce purchased the building for the future site of the museum. After receiving additional grants from the state of Kentucky, the museum opened in May 1994.
The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum features exhibits on a miner's home, a company hospital, commissary, and school; engineering, coal sampling, a mock mine tour and the Loretta Lynn "Coal Miner's Daughter" exhibit. In 2009, the museum began to coordinate tours of the nearby Portal 31 Mine, which opened in 1917. The thirty-minute tour of the mine involves eight stops that chronologically depict a different era in coal mining, ranging from the 1910s to present-day.
Hours and admission
The museum is open Monday-Saturday (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and Sunday (1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) eastern timeEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
. Portal 31 is open Tuesday-Saturday (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) eastern time and is closed during the winter months.
Admission
| Age group | Museum | Portal 31 | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | $6.00 | $10.00 | $15.00 |
| Seniors (62 & up) | $5.00 | $9.00 | $13.00 |
| High school - college | $4.00 | $7.00 | $10.00 |
| Children (3-12) | $3.00 | $5.00 | $7.00 |
| Children under 3 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
See also
- Coal Miners' MuseumCoal Miners' Museum (Van Lear)The Coal Miners' Museum is a museum in Van Lear, Kentucky dedicated to the area's coal mining history . The museum is administered by the Van Lear Historical Society.-History:...
- David A. Zegeer Coal-Railroad MuseumDavid A. Zegeer Coal-Railroad MuseumThe David A. Zegeer Coal-Railroad Museum is local history museum located at 102 Main Street in Jenkins, Kentucky across from the former Jenkins High School. The museum was dedicated on May 9, 1998....