Alabama Mining Museum


Useful Information

Location: Dora.
(33°43'53.18"N, 87° 5'23.55"W)
Open: All year Tue-Sat 8:30-16.
[2021]
Fee: free.
[2021]
Classification: SubterraneaBergbaumuseen
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:  
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Alabama Mining Museum, 120 East Street, Dora, AL 35062, Tel: +1-205-648-2442.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History

1890 begin of coal mining in the area.
1935 gym built by WPA.
1940 end of coal mining.
1984 Alabama Mining Museum designated the "Official State Coal Mining Museum of Alabama."

Description

The Alabama Mining Museum is located in a gym which was built in 1935 by WPA. It was designed as the Official State Coal Mining Museum of Alabama. The collections include memorabilia, artefacts of mining history and the daily life of the miners. Special exhibits are the one-room Black School, the Old Wyatt Elementary School, the 1900s Kellerman Post Office, and the Oakman Depot. This typical above ground institutions influenced the culture of the miners and their families.

A special highlight for baseball fans has actually nothing to do with mining. There is a baseball and glove from Dora native "Poison" Ivy Paul Andrews, a Major League Baseball pitcher.

Oustide the museum on the premises are some open air displays. Main exhibit is a train from the 1900s with mining cars.

The work of the museum in preseving the mining heritage was recognized by the Alabama State Senate. In 1984 they designated it the "Official State Coal Mining Museum of Alabama."