The west virginia mine wars museum preserves and shares stories about the struggles of coal miners and their families for workers' rights, civil rights, and justice in the early 20th century. as a people's history museum, we lift up the legacy of a multi-racial, multi-lingual effort to unionize the coalfields. we foster connections between the mine wars era and the injustices that still confront working people in appalachia, the nation, and around the world. finally, the museum educates youth, builds community partnerships, and promotes regional economic development.