Midlothian Coal Mines

Midlothian Coal Mines is a Virginia historical marker in Chesterfield County, dedicated 1987.

Chesterfield County · dedicated 1987 · 13501 Midlothian Turnpike

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South of here are the Midlothian Coal Mines, probably the oldest coal mines in America. Coal was first mined here before 1730, and during the Revolution, coal from these mines supplied the cannon foundry at Westham. The first railroad in Virginia was built from the Midlothian mines to the town of Manchester in 1831. The mines produced coal that was used in casting cannon at the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond during the Civil War. Mining operations ceased in 1923.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

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under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

what this marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years here

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Marker program managed by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

More markers nearby

Salisburyunder 1 mi
Union Raid on Coalfield Stationunder 1 mi
Winfree Memorial Baptist Church--Midlothian Mine Disasterunder 1 mi
Midlothian Elementary Schoolunder 1 mi