Peytona in Boone County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Coal Discovered

Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 13, 2019

1. Coal Discovered Marker

Inscription. John Peter Salley (Salling) and companions discovered coal near here in 1742 on their exploring trip from the Greenbrier River. They followed the Coal River to its junction with The Great Kanawha River at St. Albans.

Erected 1997 by Boone Boosters and West Virginia Division of Culture and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1742.

Location. 38° 8.207′ N, 81° 40.797′ W. Marker is in Peytona, West Virginia, in Boone County. It is on Daniel Boone Parkway (West Virginia Route 3) 0.1 miles west of Roundbottom Road (Local Route 119/21), on the right when traveling west. It is on the west end of the Route 3 bridge over the Big Coal River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Peytona WV 25154, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southern Coalfields.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically

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in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Peytona (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); John Edward Kenna (approx. 0.4 miles away); Nellis No. 3 Mine Explosion (approx. 3.6 miles away); Nellis / ARMCO Coal (approx. 3.6 miles away); Little Coal River (approx. 8.9 miles away); Robert Hager (approx. 8.9 miles away); Boone County World War Memorial (approx. 9 miles away); Madison (approx. 9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Peytona.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Indian Camp (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for John Peter Salling. Excerpt:

In 1742, Salling discovered coal in western Virginia, along the banks of the Coal River, near what is today Racine in Boone County, West Virginia. His companions were John Howard, Josiah Howard, John Poteet
Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 13, 2019

2. Coal Discovered Marker
and Charles St. Clair. They were offered 10,000-acre land grants to explore the wilderness beyond Virginia. He is credited widely for having discovered the first reserves of coal ever found. That coal was later used in the first ever coal-generated power plant, developed by Thomas Edison, in 1882.

(Submitted on August 4, 2019.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,868 times since then and 100 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 4, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.