Portal 31

Portal 31 Mine Ride

Useful Information

Location:	Lynch, Harlan County. I5, Corbin exit 29, US 25E to Pineville, US 119 to Cumberland, KY 160 to Lynch. Signposted from Cumberland.
Open:	not yet open
Fee:	not yet open [2006]
Classification:	coal mine [2006]
Light:	electric.
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Bibliography:
Address:	Portal No. 31 Underground Mine Tour, Tel: +1-606-848-1530.
Last update:	$Date: 2008/10/09 18:39:18 $

History


1917		area acquired by the United States Coal and Coke Company.
04-AUG-1917		decision to construct the mine.
2008		opened to the public?

Geology

The main seam mined here was numbered C. It was also called Benham, Keokee, Taggart, and Roda seam. It is mostly 1.6m thick and is considered one of the best gas and coking coals in the United States.

Description

Portal 31 is a huge coal mine, which is currently prepared as a show mine. In 2006 the development was said to be almost complete and the mine would be opened the same year. However, in 2007 the mine is still closed. The development includes a sort of animatronic displays or dioramas. A robotic miner, his son and grandson will tell the story of the evolution of mining.

Portal 31 was named after its entrance, which was just numbered. The mine and the surrounding infrastructure were constructed during World War I.