Mining Display

West Virginia has a long tradition of coal mining, and Harrison County is no exception. For most of the state’s existence, coal has been the primary source of economic revenue. Many miners lived in the neighborhoods surrounding Clarksburg and used trains, trolleys, and other forms of transportation to go to the mines each day. The artifacts in this case provide insight into the historical daily life of miners through the most vital pieces of equipment: lanterns, a lunchbox, and helmets. In this entry’s audio clip mining equipment collector and former tipple worker Bill Hurst discusses some of the objects in the display.