Coal Heritage Trail

Coal Heritage Trail. . , Points of Interest ~ , Ansted – Visit the Ansted Heritage Museum, Hawks Nest State Park, or take a hike on the Ansted Rail Trail., Ashland – Locally made crafts may be purchased at the restored Ashland Company Store. A Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Kiosk is located nearby., Beckley – Go underground for a tour of the Exhibition Coal Mine located beneath the Raleigh Company Store and other structures common to southern WV coal camps., Bluefield – The Bluefield Rail Yard, a symbol of the importance of the Norfolk and Western Railroad to the coal industry. The rail yards are adjacent to the Bluefield Downtown Commercial Historic District and Dickason Street. The Eastern Regional Coal Archive is also located nearby., Bramwell – The Town of Bramwell, once home to many of the first prosperous coal barons in the Pocahontas Coal Fields, offers more about the region on a visit to the Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center in the reconstructed Bramwell Depot., Canyon Rim Visitors Center – Located on the north rim of the New River Gorge, providing visitors with information about the New River Gorge National River and the development of the coal industry within the gorge in the 19th century., Coalwood – Once a model company town, Coalwood was home to the Olga Coal Company and the famous Rocket Boys. Many of the structures, featured in the movie “October Sky,” still stand in the town., Eccles – This is the site of a memorial dedicated to the miners who died on April 28, 1914 and March 8, 1926 at the Eccles mine., Fayetteville – The Fayetteville Historic District and Fayette County Courthouse highlight this charming town., Helen – is an intact coal camp with a special Miner’s Memorial dedicated to miners from the community., Hinton – offers the Historic District and Hinton Train Depot., Itmann and Mullens - View the Pocahontas Comapny Store in Itnmann, explore the history of the Virginian Railway, and enjoy the murals located throughout the Mullens Historic District., Kimball – The Houston Company Store is one of Southern West Virginia's intact company stores. This is also the site of the restored War Memorial to African-American Veterans., Midland Trail – intersecting with the Coal Heritage Trail at its northern terminus, the Midland Trail is a National Scenic Byway. Route 60 across West Virginia from Virginia to Kentucky., Mt. Hope – A Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Kiosk is located here. Mt. Hope features an Historic District, an intact company store, New River Company buildings, and a series of walking trails., Pineville – features the historic Wyoming County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Castle Rock, a unique geologic formation created by the Guyandotte River., Princeton – The Princeton Railroad Museum, a replica of the Virginian Railway Station built in 1909. The museum features an extensive collection of Virginian and Norfolk and Western railroad artifacts., Sandstone Visitor Center – A National Park Service facility, the visitor center, located near Hinton, showcases the New River Gorge National River., Sophia – The Sophia Historic District reflects its history as a service town for surrounding coal camps and serves as a gateway to the Winding Gulf Coalfields., Thurmond – The National Park Service has restored Thurmond Depot Interpretive Center, operated seasonally by the National Park Service, which tells the story of this important railroad community., Twin Falls – This state park features the Pioneer Farm and a Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Kiosk., Welch – The Welch Historic District features the famous McDowell County Courthouse and three historic movie theaters., Whipple – The Whipple Company Store is one of the few remaining wooden coal company stores. Its unique architecture and history make it an important stop along the trail., New River Gorge National River Gateway Community