Links to Mining Museums and Miners' Memorials for Kentucky
Kentucky Coal Mining Museum
Benham, Kentucky
While visiting the Kentucky Coal
Mining Museum, you can see the floor
plan of atypical underground coal mine.
The display shows all aspects of a coal
mine including the tipple and other
mining activities.
In addition to the many displays inside
the building, visitors can have there
picture made outside the building next
to the two-ton block of coal that was
specially cut for the Kentucky Coal
Mining Museum. Kids will also enjoy
climbing on the 1940’s model electric
locomotive that was used to haul miners
inside the mine and see the other heavy
machinery used in mining the “black
diamond.”
The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum is
located in the former coal camp town of
Benham in the eastern Kentucky county of
Harlan. Benham was originally occupied
by farming families. International Harvester
purchased the area in the early 1900’s for
its rich coal seams; then mining began.
In 1911, L&N built a spur line and
Benham became a productive coal mining
town.
The City of Benham was incorporated in
1960 after International Harvester sold
several buildings and lots to the town
council.
The museum building is the second
building built by the
company to house a
company
commissary. The first
one, built on the same
site, was a wooden
structure which was
destroyed by fire in
the mid-teens. The
concrete and
masonry structure
that now stands
replaced the burned
building in 1923. The building was
purchased in June 1990 by the Tri-City
Chamber of Commerce for the future site
of the museum. It underwent extensive
renovations with funds provided from the
state of Kentucky and opened its doors for
the first time in May 1994. Museum visitors
always have an enjoyable time when they
visit the museum and recount the past
coal mining history.
The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum
offers a complete picture of the lives that
revolve around a coal industry. Visitors to
the museum can view the process detailing
the formation of coal by looking at several
visuals and fossil displays. Next a narrated
video describes the early coal mining days
in Benham and Lynch. Other displays
include items from the company hospital,
early mining tools, items from the
commissary and the miner’s home, and a
working scale model of a coal tipple. A
photography collection documenting the
past history of Benham - mining accidents,
new ‘buildings, people, etc. - can also be
seen. Thousands of items have been
collected detailing every segment of coal
mining history. After
a short trip to Portal
31 in nearby Lynch
(2 miles), you can
enjoy a walking tour,
with sign boards, of
one of the largest
coal loading facilities
in the world.
Just opening in May, 1994, the
Kentucky Coal Mine Museum has enjoyed
a successful first year. While not
complete, plans in the very near future
are to complete renovation of the building
and accompanying underground mine tour
which will be located at nearby Portal 31
in Lynch. A walking tour of the grounds
outside the portal is already developed.
Country music legend Loretta Lynn,“The
Coal Miner’s Daughter,” has agreed to
house a collection on the third floor of
the museum. That portion of the museum
is expected to open in early 1997. We
welcome you to come visit the Kentucky
Coal Mining Museum and encourage, a
call ahead for large groups or tours.
The museum has a web site.
The address for the site is http://www.kingdomcome.org/museum/.
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