The Portal 31 coal mine began operating more than 100 years ago. It closed in 1963, reopened, closed again, and is now a fascinating new interactive attraction.
Wait a minute, isn't coal or at least coal jobs supposed to be coming back Kentucky? While that question is still up in the air, the history of our coal mining industry has taken a page from the modern way of doing things. The Kentucky Coal Museum located in Harlan County, has installed solar panels as a means of saving money. Ironic don't you think?