Industry
Phillips-Sprague Mine in Beckley, West Virginia, began as a drift mine that opened about 1889, entered commercial development in 1905, and shipped its first coal on January 4, 1906. Mining continued until 1953, when operations ceased and the property was sold to the City of Beckley. Its later importance grew from preservation and public interpretation: the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine opened in 1962 as the first historic site wholly dedicated to educating the public about coal mining. With restored passageways, vintage track, and daily tours resumed in 2008, it links Beckley’s history to the broader Appalachian coal industry.
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Beckley, West Virginia · United States