Creating a New Exhibition at the WV Mine Wars Museum

by Shaun Slifer, Creative Director

“I have worked as the Creative Director at the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum, which I helped to found, since 2014. I always tell people that this is one of the projects I’m most proud of, and that’s not an exaggeration — there’s some serious talent and passion in our working group, and we’ve built something rare and incredible.

This spring, I worked with historian Chuck Keeney to build our museum’s first temporary exhibition, Boots on the Ground: General Bandholtz and Federal Troops at Blair Mountain. I was down in Matewan installing everything just a couple weeks ago, with an opening on May 18 during Matewan’s annual Heritage Day celebrations.

Doug Estepp, a collector and a huge supporter of ours, brought us the opportunity in the form of a military trunk full of the belongings of US Army General Harry Hill Bandholtz. Gen. Bandholtz was the Army commander responsible for leading federal troops in forcing the armed, striking coal miners to surrender during the Battle of Blair Mountain (1921). Doug was willing to loan this trunk for exhibition, and that’s how we got started making an exhibit about the US military’s role in suppressing a popular revolt against corporate interests.”

Read more of Shaun’s thoughtful essay about creating the Boots on the Ground exhibition, and come see us in Matewan on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am – 6pm.