48-Bell Carillon
Concord University, Athens, WV 24712 (304) 384-5317
Harmonic melodies from 48 bronze bells ring daily across the beautiful landscape of Athens, West Virginia, marking a point of interest for your journey in the central Appalachians.

Bluefield Area Arts Center
500 Bland Street Bluefield, WV 24701 (304) 325-8000
Historic, "Old City Hall." The building still contains jail cells and the remnants of the police, fire, and other municipal services. The Paine Gallery was formerly the public library. The lovely old building now houses the Summit Theatre and several counseling service offices.

Bluefield Historic Driving Tour of Homes
Bluefield, WV 24701. The driving tour showcases mostly 1920's, 1930's and 20th Century style architecture. There are 250 listings on the National Register of Historic Places.

Buddy's Country Store & Museum
Old Route 52 Bluewell, WV 24701 (304) 589-5659
Open May-September by appointment only. Coal Camp House Depiction. Thousands of pieces of memorabilia from years gone by. No admission charge.

Chestnut Springs Farm
New Hope Road, Bluefield, WV 24701(304) 589-3972
South African Boer Goats & More!

Clay Memorial Park
First Mercer County settlement location. Near Lake Shawnee, intersection of Rts. 10 & 19. Spanishburg, WV 25922

Coal Heritage Trail
Experience the story of strong, resilient men and women, of families who spent generations mining coal, of incredible racial and ethnic diversity, of strong, close-knit communities, and of isolation, danger and violence. Traveling the Trail you will pass through National Register Historic Districts in the towns of Bluefield, Bramwell, Welch, Mullens, Beckley and Fayetteville. State parks located along or near the Trail include Hawks Nest State Park, Twin Falls State Park and Pinnacle Rock State Park. (304) 256-6941, email: coalheritagetrail@verizon.net

Downtown Bluefield Historic Walking Tour
Located five miles from Exit 1 off 1-77.
View historic Victorian architecture listed on the National Register of Historic Places. "Capital" of the southern West Virginia smokeless coal fields.

East River Mountain Overlook
Off U.S. Rt. 460 in Bluefield, take Rt. 598 to top of the mountain. (304) 327-2401
Served as the state's first Visitor Information Center in 1960. Located at the top of East River Mountain at an elevation of 3,500 feet above sea level, this attraction provides a breathtaking view of the city of Bluefield and East River Mountain. Observation deck, hiking trails, restrooms, picnic shelters, tables and grills.

Eastern Regional Coal Archives
600 Commerce Street Bluefield, WV 24701 (304) 325-3943. Archives/Museum. Collecting, preserving and making available Coalfield Heritage through photographs, memorabilia, books, music, film and other historical materials.

Hank Williams, Sr. Memorial Bridge
Off I-77, Athens Exit 14. Four and one-half miles. (304) 487-0259. The bridge carries traffic across the Bluestone River on Rt. 19 at Spanishburg. This is where Hank crossed shortly before his death on the night of December 31, 1952. In recognition of the greatest country songwriter who has ever lived, there will be an Annual Country Bluegrass Jam, featuring arts and crafts and a flea market the second Saturday in September.

Historic Bramwell, WV
Historic Coal Heritage, Coal Baron Mansions, Coal Heritage Interpretive Center.. Home tours given in spring and at Christmas (2nd Saturday in May at 2pm and 2nd Saturday in December at 5pm). Located eight miles from Bluefield, WV. Contact: Betty Goins (304) 248-8381 or (304) 248-7114.

Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park
Rt. 1 Box 194 Tazewell, VA 24651 (276) 988-6755
Located mid-way between Bluefield and Richlands on Route 460 West. Region's most comprehensive historical museum. Log homes, modern museum gallery, horse drawn equipment and early automobiles, regional crafts, food products and art.

Mercer County War Museum
1500 W. Main Street, Princeton, WV (304) 487-8397
Hours: M-F 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
"Dedicated to Those Who Served". Displays from the Civil War through the Iraq War..

Princeton Speedway
Exit 14 off I-77, Cornbread Ridge Road Princeton, WV 24740. (304) 425-RACE (7223). 4/10 mile, clay, oval speedway is open April to October. Races begin Saturday evening at 6pm. The speedway seats 3,000.

Pocahontas Exhibition Mine & Museum
Pocahontas, VA 24635 (276) 945-2134
WORLD'S FIRST SHOW MINE. Opened in 1882. Spectacular 13 feet tall coal seam. Mine operated for 73 years. The mine produced more than 44 million tons of coal. Open April 26 to September 30, seven days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fifty two degrees year round. Group rates are available. Walking tours of the town of Pocahontas may be taken with prior arrangements. National Historic Landmark. Virginia's Official Coal Heritage Zone.

Princeton Railroad Museum
Princeton, WV 24740 (304) 487-5060.
The Princeton Railroad Museum is located in the historic district of East Mercer Street. The replica depot houses a multitude of priceless artifacts relating to the Virginian Railroad. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10 am - 2 pm, Sundays 2 pm - 5 pm.

Tate Lohr Fish Hatchery
Oakvale, WV (304) 898-3221
State Trout Rearing Station. Open for tours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No admission charge. From Route 460 East take Oakvale Exit (Rt. 112). Turn right at the bottom of the hill. After passing the fire station take next right. Cross the wooden bridge and continue four miles up Pigeon Creek. Watch for signs.

The McNutt House
Princeton, WV 24740 (304) 487-1502
The only surviving structure from the Civil War standing in Princeton. Home of the Princeton Mercer County Chamber of Commerce. Located at the corner of North Walker & Honaker Avenue, Princeton, WV.

Vietnam Memorial
Princeton, WV 24740 (304) 487-0082
Located next to the Princeton Tourist Information Center. Memorial lists Vietnam Vets of eight surrounding counties.Virginia counties include: Bland, Giles, Tazewell, Wythe. West Virginia counties include: Mercer, Monroe, McDowell, Summers.

Wiley Cabin & Museum
Princeton, WV 24740 (304) 425-8536
This circa 1932 cabin was originally built by John Robert Wiley and has now been relocated to the Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce lot on the Oakvale Road. The museum houses three exhibit rooms, the Ruth Keaton Linkous Library and a craft and gift shop. Off U.S. Rt. 460 West on the Oakvale Road across from Shoney's.

Winterplace Ski Resort
Exit 28 off I-77 Ghent, WV 25841 (304) 787-3221
Twenty eight trails, a terrain park and a sixteen lane snowtubing park with four lifts. Trails range from beginner to expert. One hundred percent snowmaking coverage capability on every single trail. Special events, group rates, restaurants, lounge and slope-side condominiums are available. Open seven days a week from early December to late March. Hours are: weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum
Bastian, VA 24314 (276) 688-3438
Located in Southwest Virginia, in Bland County, just off I-77, exit 58, 1000 feet North on U.S. Highway 52.
Experience a palisaded primitive village built to duplicate archaeological records of a village carbon dated 1215 with guides in primitive dress demonstrating the skills needed to exist in those times. Open Monday-Saturday 10 am - 5 pm. Closed Sunday's.

TOP OF PAGE