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Through the early 1900s, the New River Gorge region produced more coal than any other area in the world. People came from all over the country and world to the quiet mountains of West Virginia to mine coal. In honor of our coal heritage the National Coal Heritage Area (NCHA) was established in November 1996. The NCHA is one of only 22 nationally designated heritage areas in the entire United States. The National Coal Heritage Area encompasses 11 counties in Southern West Virginia including counties in the New River Gorge. The mission of the NCHA is to preserve, protect, and interpret lands, structures, and communities associated with the coal mining heritage of West Virginia. The National Coal Heritage Area is a partnership project of the National Park Service, and the state of West Virginia as represented by the Division of Tourism and the Division of Culture and History. National Heritage Area designation recognizes the coalfields of Southern West Virginia as a treasure of national importance that can be cherished for many years to come.
For more information visit - http://www.cr.nps.gov/heritageareas/AREAS/NCOAL.HTM |
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