Beckley in Raleigh County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

The Phillips-Sprague Mine

Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 7, 2025

1. The Phillips-Sprague Mine Marker

Inscription.
1883-1953
is listed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by The United States
Department of the Interior

Erected 2009 by the Raleigh County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 37° 47.057′ N, 81° 11.755′ W. Marker is in Beckley, West Virginia, in Raleigh County. It can be reached from Ewart Avenue half a mile west of Robert C. Byrd Drive (West Virginia Route 16), on the left when traveling west. Marker is located on the grounds of the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 513 Ewart Avenue, Beckley WV 25801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s New River Gorge.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically 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 walking distance of this marker: The Slab Fork Coal Company (a few steps from this marker); The Coal Camp (within shouting distance of this marker); Superintendent's House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Schoolhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Miner's House (within shouting distance of this marker); Raleigh County Coal Mines (within shouting distance of this marker); Bachelor’s Shanty

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Coal Camp Church (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beckley.

Regarding The Phillips-Sprague Mine. The mine opened about 1889 on what had been operated as a drift mine. Commercial development of the drift mine began in 1905 and the first coal was shipped on January 4, 1906. Mine operations ceased in 1953, and the property was sold to the City of Beckley. The Exhibition Coal Mine opened in 1962, as the first historic site wholly dedicated to educating the public about coal mining. It consists of 1,500 feet of restored passageways and entries with 3,000 feet of vintage track. It reopened to the public on April 1, 2008 as a preserved coal mine that offers daily tours and a history lesson on coal mining in Appalachia. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 25, 1988, reference No. 88000266.

Also see . . . Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum Homepage.

Tour underground, visit the Coal Camp, the Museum and the Gift Shop stocked with West Virginia items. The hands-on exhibitions and underground coal mining tour offer wonderful opportunities for our
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 7, 2025

2. The Phillips-Sprague Mine Marker
Marker is on the right.
visitors to learn, explore, interact and share.

(Submitted on August 14, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.)

Entrance Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 7, 2025

3. Entrance Sign

Plaque on the coal miner statue reads:

Dedicated to
All West Virginia Coal Miners
Presented by - Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Funeral Homes & Crematorium
1994

Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 244 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 14, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.