Watts Museum facts for kids

The Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum, often called the Watts Museum, is a special place at West Virginia University. It's located in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. This museum teaches visitors about the history of important industries.

It was first known as the COMER Museum. This name came from the College of Mineral and Energy Resources (COMER) at West Virginia University. In 2005, the museum was renamed the Watts Museum. This change honored Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts.

History of the Watts Museum

The museum's collection started even before 1930. That's when the School of Mines, later called COMER, was created at West Virginia University. One of the first things collected was a group of flame safety lamps. These lamps were used to keep miners safe underground.

Before 1991, these lamps were shown in cases in White Hall. This building was on the downtown campus of West Virginia University. In 1986, plans were made for a new building. This new building, the Mineral Resources Building (MRB), included space for a museum. This is when the COMER Museum officially opened.

In 2005, the museum received special gifts of money. These gifts came from the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute (WVCMI) and the Watts family. Many other friends and alumni of West Virginia University also helped. The WVCMI asked for the museum's name to be changed. They wanted to honor Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts. They said the Watts family had "tirelessly supported its mission." Royce J. Watts was a teacher at West Virginia University for over 50 years. He and his wife helped create the COMER Museum.

In 2012, the museum received a grant. This money came from The West Virginia Humanities Council. It helped the museum create a program for older adults. This program taught them about coal mining.

What the Museum Does

The museum's main goal was written in the mid-1980s. It explains why the COMER Museum was started.

The museum works to save and share the history of West Virginia's industries. These include coal, oil, and gas. It does this by collecting, keeping, studying, and showing items. These items are important to the social, cultural, and technological history of these industries.

Museum Collections

The Watts Museum has thousands of items. These items show different times in the coal and oil industries. One of its most famous collections is of flame safety lamps. It has over 100 different types and styles. This is one of the largest collections in the United States. The museum also has old books, documents, and historical photos.

Other items you can find at the museum include:

• Mine rescue equipment
• Canary cages (canaries were used to detect dangerous gases)
• Rare minerals from West Virginia and around the world
• Tools and machines used for mining and drilling
• Small working models of mining equipment
• Old photos
• Early tools from the coal, oil, and gas industries
• Personal items of coal miners, like clothing and lunch buckets
• Samples of petroleum at different stages of being made into products

Most of the items at the Watts Museum were given as gifts. They came from mining and petroleum companies. Many also came from people who went to the college.

Past Exhibits to Explore

The Watts Museum has hosted many interesting exhibits over the years. These exhibits help visitors learn about different parts of industry history.

Oil Production in West Virginia: 1860–1900

This exhibit ran from May 2010 to October 2010. It was called Light/Lubricant/Liniment: The Early Years of Oil Production and Consumption in West Virginia, 1860–1900. It showed how West Virginia's oil fields grew after 1859. That year, Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in the United States. The exhibit looked at how oil was made and used in the late 1800s. It focused on oil for lighting, for making machines run smoothly, and for medicines. Displays included old photos, documents, model oil derricks, and early drilling tools.

Mine Rescuers of Appalachia

This exhibit was open from January 2011 to August 2011. It was named Helmet Men: Mine Rescuers of Appalachia’s Coalfields. It focused on the brave people who rescue miners. These teams help during mining accidents. The exhibit showed mine rescue equipment and historical photos. It also included videos of mine rescuers in action.

The History of Mine Lighting

From September 2011 to July 2012, the museum featured Defying the Darkness: The Struggle for Safe and Sufficient Mine Illumination. This exhibit explored how mines were lit over time. It looked at the views of mining companies, miners, and inventors. Items on display included early oil lamps, carbide lights, and battery-powered cap lamps. It also showed the flame safety lamp.

Engineering at West Virginia University: 1887–2012

This exhibit ran from August 2012 to July 2013. It was called The Story of Engineering: West Virginia University, 1887–2012. It celebrated 125 years of the engineering college at West Virginia University. The exhibit showed what students learned and the research done there. It also showed the college's buildings and students. Items included a letter for the college's first dean and a computer storage device from 1958.

Daily Life in a Coal Community

From September 2013 to July 2014, the museum presented Outside the Mine: Daily Life in a Coal Camp. This exhibit looked at West Virginia's coal industry. It focused on how people lived in coal communities. It showed their jobs, social lives, homes, and free time. This covered the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. The exhibit included old items like a hand clothes wringer and historical photos.