The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum occupies a modest storefront at 2 Mate Street in Matewan, Mingo County—the precise location where one of the most consequential gunfights in American labor history erupted in 1920. Founded in 2015 by a coalition of local historians and labor advocates, the museum documents the West Virginia Mine Wars (1912–1921), a decade of sustained armed conflict between coal miners seeking union recognition and the coal operators who employed private security agencies to suppress organizing efforts in the southern West Virginia coalfields. The Matewan Massacre of May 19, 1920, began when a group of Baldwin-Felts detective agency operatives arrived in town to evict miners' families from company-owned housing. Town Police Chief Sid Hatfield, a miner-sympathizer, confronted the agents alongside Mayor Cabell Testerman. In the gunfight that followed, seven Baldwin-Felts agents, the mayor, and two miners were killed. The incident drew national attention to conditions in the West Virginia coalfields and set off a chain of events culminating in August 1921, when an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 armed miners marched south toward Logan County, controlled by anti-union Sheriff Don Chafin. Federal troops and military aircraft were ultimately deployed to suppress what became known as the Battle of Blair Mountain—the largest armed labor uprising in the United States since the Civil War. The museum's two-room exhibition space uses archival photographs, first-person accounts, UMW (United Mine Workers of America) documents, front-page newspapers, and artifacts to reconstruct the Mine Wars in granular detail. Key exhibits explain the company-town system—including company scrip, the currency paid by coal operators redeemable only at company-owned stores—and trace the role of the Baldwin-Felts Agency in policing the coalfields. A short documentary film provides an overview of the full conflict. Staff members are frequently descendants of Mine Wars participants, offering personal context unavailable in any written record. The museum operates on a suggested-donation basis.
Why it matters
Matewan was the site of the 1920 Matewan Massacre, the flashpoint that directly triggered the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain—the largest armed labor uprising in American history since the Civil War—in which up to 15,000 armed miners confronted state and federal forces in the southern West Virginia coalfields.
Location
2 Mate St, Matewan, WV 25678
37.6244, -82.1677 View on map
Highlights
- Site of the 1920 Matewan Massacre—the gunfight that directly preceded the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed labor uprising since the Civil War
- Archival photographs, company scrip, and UMW documents chronicling the Mine Wars era (1912–1921)
- First-person accounts and documentary film on the 10,000-strong miners' march and the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain
- Staff members who are often descendants of Mine Wars participants, providing personal historical context
- Exhibits on the company-town system, Baldwin-Felts Agency, and the conditions that drove miners to armed rebellion
Tips for visiting
- Call ahead during the off-season (+1 304-426-0943) as hours vary; reliable open Tue–Sat 10 AM–5 PM during peak season
- The $5 suggested donation is genuinely relied upon—the museum operates on minimal public funding and volunteers
- Pick up the Matewan Historic Walking Tour map at the museum to visit key massacre sites around the small historic downtown
- Ask staff about family connections to the Mine Wars—personal stories add a dimension no exhibit panel can fully capture
- The drive to Matewan through the Tug Fork valley passes through Hatfield-McCoy country, adding geographical context to the region's history of conflict
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to the Mine Wars Museum take?
Most visitors spend 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. The documentary film runs approximately 30 minutes and can be viewed as part of the visit.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Yes, though content deals with violence, labor exploitation, and poverty. The museum is used for educational group visits; most school-age children engage well with the exhibits.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
The ground-floor space is accessible from the street. The building's older construction limits full accessibility features; visitors with specific needs should contact the museum in advance.
Are all exhibits in English?
Yes. All exhibits, signage, and the documentary film are in English only; no multilingual materials are currently available.