The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum

Matewan, WV

In the town of Matewan, the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum sits at the site of a historic battle that erupted in May of 1920, setting into motion a chain of events that led to the largest armed uprising in the United States since our civil war.  Over 10,000 people from many different cultures joined together and rose up, fighting for basic human rights, labor justice, their lives, and their families.

The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum preserves and uplifts the voices of the people who lived these stories of sacrifice, violence, and triumph. 

Come experience the largest exhibition of Mine Wars history anywhere in the United States! Explore this legacy with compelling exhibits of archival photos and videos, first-person accounts, rare artifacts and replicas, and detailed timelines placing the events of the Mine Wars era in a global context. Step into the era with the miners and their families! 

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