The people at Westmoreland Coal Company, museum owners, have understood for a long time that a coal museum would be a valuable and worthwhile project.  Plans were initiated several years ago and the search for artifacts got underway.

In 1972, a big step was taken with the purchase of the property that once served as the library and study of John Fox, Jr., a famed author of THE TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE and other folk classics.  The building has been completely renovated for the purpose of housing the museum, but great care was taken to retain the authenticity of the original structure and maintain respect for the past.