Coaltown Museum facts for kids

Entrance to Coaltown Museum

The Coaltown Museum is a super interesting place in Westport, on the West Coast of New Zealand. It's all about the history of coal mining in the area and how important it was.

What is the Coaltown Museum?

The museum building is located right in the middle of Westport, on Palmerston Street. It's part of a cool area with other cultural spots. The building was designed by a team of architects called Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects. In 2013, it even won two special awards for its design and use of color from the New Zealand Institute of Architects.

What Can You See Inside?

The Coaltown Museum first opened its doors in 2013. Inside, you'll find amazing displays that show you how coal was dug up from the ground and how ships were used to move it around.

Cool Things to Discover

• An eight-ton coal wagon that was used at the famous Denniston mine. Imagine how much coal that could carry!
• A simulated underground mine. This lets you experience what it might have been like for miners working deep below the ground.
• A real steam engine from a ship called the SS Mawhera. This shows how powerful machines helped move coal.
• Lots of old photographs and objects. These tell stories about the miners and their lives on the West Coast.