Northern Appalachian Coal Mining Heritage Association

NORTHERN APPALACHIAN COAL MINING HERITAGE ASSOCIATION (NACMHA) MISSION STATEMENT CURRENT AS OF: 3-1-2016 Concise Mission Statement: To educate the public on, maintain and preserve historic and cultural heritage pertaining to coal mining in the Fairmont Field and do so in various ways whenever possible. Expanded Mission Statement: To educate the public on, maintain and preserve historic and cultural heritage pertaining to coal mining in the Fairmont Field and do so in various ways whenever possible; to create and maintain a museum or museums for such purposes; to preserve heritage, work together with like-minded groups and help the regional economy by creating jobs and increasing tourism. The current focus is the Fairmont Field, namely the West Virginia counties of Barbour, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor and Wetzel from the 19th century to present day. Northern Appalachian Coal Mining Heritage Association: Keeping Heritage Alive Did you know? • West Virginia is still today the second largest coal producing state in the country (behind only Wyoming)? • The largest industrial disaster in the US was a mine explosion which occurred in Marion County, West Virginia on Dec. 6, 1907? • How long it takes to shovel one ton of coal? • Fairmont, West Virginia has a coal mining museum? These and other facts can be learned through the Northern Appalachian Coal Mining heritage Association (NACMHA), a Fairmont, West Virginia-based non-profit organization. NACMHA was founded in the year 2000 and has maintained 501c3 status with the IRS. While actively involved in educating the public on coal mining heritage through its public coal exhibit in Fairmont, NACMHA also supports area coal mining heritage projects like the Miners’ Memorial Park in Everettsville, WV in Monongalia County. The organization is a long time participant in various community events and is the caretaker of a traveling exhibit owned by the state Division of Culture and History. NACMHA’s physical facility it offers more visitor interaction than a typical museum. It is located adjacent to the Coal Country Miniature Golf Course in Fairmont. It is free and open to the public seasonally with donations appreciated. The current display is titled “Safety in Underground Coal Mines” and includes various hard hats, miners’ head lamps, safety lamps, a listing of WV mine disasters, a virtual coal mine, photographs and artworks, a hands-on dexterity tester, a coal shoveling station. Currently no new artifacts are being accepted due to lack of space and storage area. At the present time, NACMHA is active in a project to “connect the dots” of coal heritage sites and establishing a coal heritage area similar to the existing National Coal Heritage Area in the southern part of the state.