Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
In southwest West Virginia, the city of Beckley hosts the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum. Located in the city’s New River Park, the mine and museum have become a popular attraction celebrating the coal mining heritage of the Mountain State. Together, these institutions portray the history, character, and culture of the West Virginia coal-mining region.
The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is located on the grounds of an old mine opened in the late 1800s. The mine was donated to the city in the early 1950s for use as an exhibition. Visitors can descend 1,500 feet in what are called “man cars” into the old Beckley Mine. Exhibits along the way describe the evolution of mining, from the old ways to the modern mechanized ways. In addition to the underground mine, guided by veteran miners, the restored mining camp includes restored historical sites and structures. These include a very tiny one-room miner’s shanty, the Coal Company House, the Superintendent's Home, the Pemberton Coal Camp Church, and the Coal Camp School.
Adjacent to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia, designed to educate and enrich students about the history of early settlements in the Appalachians. The Youth Museum features a mountain homestead typical of the Appalachian frontier of the late 19th century. With trained guides explaining the purpose of each structure, youth can visit a weaver’s shed with a loom and spinning wheel, a two-story log home, a one-room schoolhouse, a barn, a general store, a blacksmith shop, and more. The Youth Museum offers an interesting educational experience for people of all ages and interests. Group tours can arrange to visit the Planetarium.
Both sites have gift shops featuring local crafts, coal figurines, books, and more.
The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is open April through November. The Youth Museum is open year round.
Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah on the borders with Maryland and Virginia. This picturesque location is filled with natural beauty of rushing waters and steep mountains. As Thomas Jefferson wrote: "The passage of the Patowmac [sic] through the Blue Ridge is perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature." Originally home to the natives who hunted and fished the rivers, the strategic location along these navigable waters “discovered” by Robert Harper, gave birth to the town of "Shenandoah Falls at Mr. Harper's Ferry".
Harpers Ferry is perhaps best known for John Brown’s Raid in 1859. His infamous raid of the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry and attempts to arm and free slaves, though unsuccessful, helped to inspire others to risk their lives in order to abolish slavery. Sentenced to death for treason, Brown said, “Now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice and mingle my blood… with the blood of millions in the slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I say let it be done.” Eventually, Harpers Ferry played a major role in the Civil War. In 1862, Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson trapped the Union Garrison inside Harpers Ferry. The surrender of 12,500 was the largest surrender of Union troops and is refereed to as "Stonewall's Brilliant Victory". The history and heritage of John Brown and the Civil War are well represented at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
There are three major sections within to tour within the park. The Lower Town Historic District, where the rivers converge, has several park exhibits and museums within the restored 19th century buildings. The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Information Center is in this district. Other sites to visit in the Lower Town include the Restoration Museum, the National Park Bookshop, the Provost Marshall Office, Mrs. Stipes Boardinghouse, the John Brown Museum, the Civil War Museum, Harper House (the oldest surviving building in Harpers Ferry) and many more.
The Maryland Heights district is breathtaking – both on the hike up the 1,448 feet and in the views of the Potomac and surrounding area. The mountains hide many Civil War fortifications. Bridges, the Naval Battery, Military Road, Military Camps and Forts are a few of the exhibits and things to see in this section. Virginus Island, along the banks of the Shenandoah River, was home to dozens of water-powered mills and factories until war and flood destroyed it. Sites and ruins along the tour include the Cotton Mill and Cotton Factory, the Shenandoah Pulp Mill, Herr’s (Flour) Mill, Hall’s Rifle Works, the Iron Foundry, and more.
The Information Center at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
New River Gorge National River
From the high mountains of North Carolina, across the Appalachians in Virginia, the white waters of New River slip northward, almost quietly, into West Virginia, before broadening into a magnificent gorge. The New River Gorge National River between Hinton and Fayetteville is 53 miles of protected free-flowing water, and 70,000 acres of surrounding land. Ironically, New River is believed to be one of the oldest rivers in the world evidenced by the immense gorge.
Starting at Bluestone Dam and ending at Hawks Nest Lake, the River Gorge National River has an abundance of activities for outdoor enthusiasts with bicycle, walking, and hiking trails, boating, camping, fishing, climbing, horseback riding, hunting, kayaking, and white water rafting. Peregrine falcon (and other birdwatching) is a more laid-back sport.
Two of New River Gorge National River’s top recreational activities are rock climbing and white water rafting. Rock climbers have discovered that the cliffs are ideal and it has become a popular climbing area. There are over 1,400 climbs in the sandstone; most of them are 5.9 or harder – most are in the 5.10-5.12 range, and average 30 to 120 feet in height. The rock is very featured, with numerous cracks and face routes. White water rafters get a thrill on the colossal rapids. The “Lower Gorge" is renowned for its great swell of rapids in the Class III to Class V range.
The New River Gorge Bridge, just north of Fayetteville, West Virginia, arches gracefully across the River. It has the world’s 2nd longest single steel arch span. It is 876 feet above New River, 2nd in height to Colorado’s Royal Gorge Bridge. Once a year, on the third Saturday in October, the bridge is open to pedestrians and celebrations for “Bridge Day”.
There are four visitor centers in the park located at various points along the 53-mile route. The Canyon Rim and the Sandstone visitor centers are open year round and are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Grandview and Thurmond Depot visitor centers are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Activities, programs and facilities at each center are vary, but between all of them visitors may find a starting point for hiking trails, and amenities such as picnic tables and/or shelters and playgrounds, scenic overlooks, and more. Ranger-led programs may be available. Thurmond Depot features a restored passenger depot, historic furnishings, and exhibits of interaction between coal mining and railroading.