Pocahontas Mine No. 1
Also known as: Baby Mine; see also:Pocahontas Historic District
Why it's listed
Pocahontas Mine No. 1, also called the Baby Mine, is a former coal mine in the town of Pocahontas, Virginia, less than a mile from the West Virginia line. Three resources remain: the mine opening with its brick archway, a ca. 1900 fan house, and a ca. 1906 stone power house with a later bathhouse and the ruins of a steam generating plant. Opened in 1882 as the first commercial mine in the Pocahontas-Flat-Top coal field, it tapped an unusually thick seam of high-grade semi-bituminous coal. Its success led the Norfolk and Western Railroad to build a branch line to the town in 1883 and encouraged dozens of other mines within twelve years. Hundreds of beehive coke ovens once stood nearby, though only three ruined ovens remain. In 1938 the mine became the first exhibition coal mine in the United States, and more than one million people have toured it. The mine closed in 1955.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mine is nationally significant in the history of earth sciences and business through its link to economic geology. It was the first commercial mine in the Pocahontas-Flat-Top coal field, and its opening in 1882 led to the railroad extension and a wave of mining in the region. It also became the first exhibition coal mine in the United States in 1938.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94001651, listed October 12, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Rt. 659, Reedsville Hollow Rd., Pocahontas |
|---|---|
| County | Tazewell County |
| Listed | October 12, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001651 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1882-1943 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated October 12, 1994 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Inactive since the mine closed in 1955; the fan house serves as the entrance to the Exhibition Mine, the bathhouse serves as visitor rest rooms, and the power house is used as a warehouse. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Within district | Pocahontas Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.30810, -81.34812 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94001651.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7206267
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.