Welcome to New River Gorge National River's newest secret, Nuttallburg.
A hundred years ago, towns like Nuttallburg, Fayette, Thayer, Elmo, Buery, were all bustling
coal mining towns found every half a mile up and down the New River.
With over 50 coal mining towns throughout the New River Gorge, this area was rich in
population and production. Nuttallburg was no exception.
Once this railroad cut its way through the New River Gorge,
towns began shipping smokeless coal out to industrial cities throughout the nation.
In the 1920's Henry Ford leased the Nuttalburg mine to provide coal for his automobile business.
His idea of vertical integration was to control all aspects of the automobile production process.
But his goal failed here in the New River Gorge when he realized that he couldn't control
the prices that the railroad was charging him to ship coal out to his businesses in
the northeast.
Today only the history remains of most of those coal mining towns found along the New
River.
The same was true for Nuttallburg. What little was left of the town was concealed beneath
trees and vines.
But in the last few years the town of Nuttallburg has undergone an extensive transformation.
The foundations for the original buildings were excavated, like you see here around me.
New trails were built to enable you to explore the site.
Interpretive waysides were erected so you could learn about the history as you explore
the town.
And of course the tipple, the head house and the conveyor were all stabilized to be preserved
for future generations.
Today when you visit Nuttallburg you can get an authentic feel for what life was like in
a coal mining town here a hundred years ago.
This effort has created one of the most intact examples of a coal mining community
in West Virginia and the United States. But if I tell you any more, you won't have anything
to find for yourself.
So come explore and enjoy Nuttallburg town site in New River Gorge National River.