Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine facts for kids
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Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine
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Mine portal
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rt. 659, 215 Shop Hollow Rd., Pocahontas, Virginia |
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| Built | 1882 |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001651 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 12, 1994 |
| Designated NHLD | October 12, 1994 |
The Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine, also called Pocahontas Mine No. 1 or Baby Mine, is a historic coal mine in Pocahontas, Virginia. This mine was the very first to open in the rich Pocahontas Coalfield in 1882. It became famous in 1938 as the first exhibition coal mine in the United States. This means it was opened for people to visit and learn about coal mining.
For many years, visitors could even drive their cars right through the mine! You would enter through one opening and exit through another. This unique experience continued until 1970. It had to stop because car exhaust fumes were damaging the mine's roof.
Contents
A Special Kind of Coal
The Pocahontas mine was known for its special type of coal. This coal was excellent for making coke. Coke is a fuel that burns very hot and clean. It was super important for steel mills to make steel.
How Coke Helped America
The coal from Pocahontas played a big part in the growth of industries in the United States. Coke and coal were sent by train all the way to Norfolk, Virginia. From there, they were shipped to other ports in the eastern U.S. and even overseas. This helped factories make more products and build new things.
What Happened to Coke Production?
Eventually, making coke at the mine site stopped. Today, a large pile of leftover mining material, called a spoil tip, covers the area where the old coke ovens used to be. You can still see the ruins of only three of these ovens, now covered by trees.
Serving the Nation
This mine was very important during both World War I and World War II. It supplied a lot of coal to the United States Navy. The coal from Pocahontas was special because it produced very little smoke when burned. This "smokeless" quality was a huge advantage for Navy ships. It helped them stay hidden from enemies far away.
The Mine's Later Years
By the end of World War II, the amount of coal left in the "Baby Mine" was getting low. Also, new technology meant fewer miners were needed to do the work. These changes helped lead to the mine becoming an exhibition site. In 1955, all coal mining in Pocahontas stopped completely.
A National Treasure
Because of its important history, the Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine was named a National Historic Landmark in 1994. This means it's a place recognized for its special meaning to the history of the United States.
See also
