The Redneck Army planned to free their compatriots from jail, help win the Mingo strike, and unionize the southern counties. First, they would have to go through Logan County where Sheriff Don Chafin, whose salary was paid by coal operators, had assembled an army of three thousand deputies and mine guards. Chafin’s “Logan Defenders,” armed with machine guns, took defensive positions along Blair Mountain’s 15-mile ridgeline.
“The Museum touches every corner of my heart. It honors my coal-mining family and celebrates the sacrifices they made to bring a union to eastern Kentucky. It has preserved, shared, and celebrated a history too long concealed—a history of my people and my place told with integrity in the most respectful and honest way possible.”
Our community-based, people's history museum is able to thrive thanks to the generous support of our amazing donors and members. For a limited time, when you donate $250 or more you can hang a piece of history in your home and join the Museum for a special donor reception on June 11!
