PAWV
  • News
    • Preservation Spotlights
    • Monthly E-newsletter
  • Contact
    • Ways to Give to PAWV
  • Advocacy
    • Most Endangered Properties
    • Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
  • Programs
    • Annual Awards >
      • 2025 Awards
    • Blair Footsteps Interpretive Trail
    • Frances Benjamin Johnston: A West Virginia Icon >
      • Selected Photos
      • Behind the Lens Activity
    • West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference >
      • 2025 Conference Sponsorship
      • Lodging for PAWV Conference
    • Webinars >
      • Webinar Archive
    • West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail
    • WV New Deal Trail
  • Resources
    • Fund Your Preservation Project
    • Preservation Techniques >
      • Historic Building Assessment
      • How to Recycle Asbestos
      • Mothballing Property
      • Window Rehabilitation
    • Preserve WV AmeriCorps >
      • Preserve WV Stories

Blair Footsteps ​centennial interpretive trail

Picture
In late August 1921, as many as 10,000 union coal miners marched south from their mustering place in Marmet, just a few miles from West Virginia state capitol. They brought weapons, and walked the country roads with weary feet or hitched rides on trains and cars—sometimes seizing transport at gunpoint. The miners were determined to break the state of martial law in Mingo County on the West Virginia-Kentucky border, where over a hundred of their union brothers were being held without trial in the county seat of Williamson. 

In their path was the anti-union stronghold of Logan County, run by the corrupt Sheriff Don Chafin—and he was not going to let the miners pass through without a fight. What followed was the largest clash of arms between American citizens since the Civil War...

For two weeks around Labor Day Weekend 2021 as part of the Battle of Blair Mountain Centennial, the Blair Footsteps interpretive trail will guide visitors along the route followed by the marching miners one hundred years ago. Beginning near the miners' original gathering place along the Kanawha River, lovers of history can follow the backroads to see six exhibit stations on the route to the battlefield, including Marmet, Racine, Madison, Clothier, Blair, and Logan.

Each station contains both an overview of the battle's events, and an account of some of the events that occurred at each stop along the trail. Photographs and vivid descriptions help visitors place themselves in the footsteps of history. All stations are outdoors and publicly accessible at all hours, rain or shine.

The Blair Footsteps interpretive trail will be open to the public from August 30 to September 11, 2021. Driving the entire route takes only about 1.5-2 hours, so plan some time to walk the path of these monumental events!

Picture
Download your brochure!

Download your virtual tour map and directions!


LOCATIONS
MARMET - Ben Morris Field
RACINE - John Slack Park
MADISON - Bituminous Coal Heritage Museum
CLOTHIER - UMWA Local 2935
BLAIR - Blair Post Office
LOGAN - Logan Area Public Library (next to Logan Middle School)

Have you seen the exhibit? Leave your feedback here!

This project was funded in part by a grant from the National Coal Heritage Area Authority.
Picture

Get Involved

  • Give Online
  • ​Volunteer​
  • ​Subscribe 
  • Contact Us

Programs

  • Advocacy
  • Conferences
  • ​Preservation Awards
  • Endangered Properties List​​​


Contact Us

Preservation Alliance of West Virginia
​421 Davis Avenue, #4  |  Elkins, WV 26241
​Email: [email protected]
Phone: 304-345-6005
Donate to PAWV
© COPYRIGHT 2025 - PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF WEST VIRGINIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • News
    • Preservation Spotlights
    • Monthly E-newsletter
  • Contact
    • Ways to Give to PAWV
  • Advocacy
    • Most Endangered Properties
    • Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
  • Programs
    • Annual Awards >
      • 2025 Awards
    • Blair Footsteps Interpretive Trail
    • Frances Benjamin Johnston: A West Virginia Icon >
      • Selected Photos
      • Behind the Lens Activity
    • West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference >
      • 2025 Conference Sponsorship
      • Lodging for PAWV Conference
    • Webinars >
      • Webinar Archive
    • West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail
    • WV New Deal Trail
  • Resources
    • Fund Your Preservation Project
    • Preservation Techniques >
      • Historic Building Assessment
      • How to Recycle Asbestos
      • Mothballing Property
      • Window Rehabilitation
    • Preserve WV AmeriCorps >
      • Preserve WV Stories