The Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Museum

The Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Museum Owned by the Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Fund. This museum puts the legacy of Cecil E. Roberts on display.

The life, accomplishments, and awards of a family man, solider and President.

04/21/2026

The lights are down, but the history is just waking up. Another productive day at the Cecil E. Roberts Museum is in the books. We’re one step closer to opening these doors.

Goodnight to a good day’s work.

Burning the midnight oil! Our dedicated Legacy Museum team has been working around the clock to finalize preparations fo...
04/16/2026

Burning the midnight oil! Our dedicated Legacy Museum team has been working around the clock to finalize preparations for the grand opening in June 2026. Stay tuned! More details are on the way!

Shout out to WVBestSigns & Pronto Print for helping our museum with our printing needs! It was important for us to use n...
04/14/2026

Shout out to WVBestSigns & Pronto Print for helping our museum with our printing needs!

It was important for us to use not only a union print shop but also a UMWA print shop.

Thank you to the members of Local Union 1058 for helping preserve labor history and getting us ready for our Grand Opening in June!

Pocket tech from 100 years ago. No batteries, no charging cables, just a tin of carbide and a bit of water. This Justri...
04/13/2026

Pocket tech from 100 years ago. No batteries, no charging cables, just a tin of carbide and a bit of water. This Justrite flask was a miner's lifeline for a long shift in the dark. Love the 'Made in U.S.A.' stamping and that classic weathered patina.

"Did you know? The curved shape of this Justrite canister isn't an accident. It was designed to sit flush against the body so it wouldn't snag while crawling through narrow mine shafts. Simple, effective, and built to last.

04/10/2026

While our exhibits are located on the first floor for visitors to explore, our team spends quite a bit of time on the third floor in our archives room.

Between the two spaces, we definitely get our daily exercise in!
We are so fortunate to work out of this magnificent building.

Thank you to the United Mine Workers of America for allowing us to preserve history within such a beautiful, historic landmark.

District 17 was organized on April 21, 1890… just months after the national United Mine Workers of America was first for...
04/07/2026

District 17 was organized on April 21, 1890… just months after the national United Mine Workers of America was first formed. At its start, it encompassed nearly the entire state of West Virginia.

Between 1912 and 1921, this district was the epicenter of the "West Virginia Mine Wars." From the struggle for basic rights to the historic Battle of Blair Mountain, District 17 led the charge to unionize the southern coalfields against incredible odds.

To learn more about this struggle at the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum in Matewan, West Virginia!

This little guy is an antique Miner’s Oil Wick Lamp from the 19th century. Long before modern LEDs, miners wore these "t...
04/04/2026

This little guy is an antique Miner’s Oil Wick Lamp from the 19th century. Long before modern LEDs, miners wore these "teapot" lamps right on their hats. It’s hard to imagine working in a coal mine with nothing but a tiny flickering flame for light.

We are blown away so far with the help we have received setting up this museum. Thank you so much to the volunteers who ...
03/31/2026

We are blown away so far with the help we have received setting up this museum. Thank you so much to the volunteers who are making this dream a reality!

Check out the Bill Blizzard marker right outside the upcoming Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Museum at the District 17 office i...
03/29/2026

Check out the Bill Blizzard marker right outside the upcoming Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Museum at the District 17 office in Charleston!

From "General" Bill Blizzard at Blair Mountain to his great-nephew, UMWA President Emeritus Cecil E. Roberts the fight for the worker is a family tradition.

We are proud to keep that history alive right here on the Boulevard.

It’s one thing to read about labor history… it’s another to see it in the eyes of the people who lived it. We just unear...
03/25/2026

It’s one thing to read about labor history… it’s another to see it in the eyes of the people who lived it. We just unearthed this incredible photo of a young Cecil Roberts during his time with UMWA District 17!

Long before he was a national voice for miners, he was right here in the heart of West Virginia, kneeling alongside the rank and file. This isn't just a photo; it’s a snapshot of the grit and solidarity that built our movement.

We can't wait to share more "action shots" and artifacts like this when the Cecil E. Roberts Museum officially opens this June in Charleston!

Love this tribute to Cecil E. Roberts Great-Grandmother, "Ma" Blizzard!
03/06/2026

Love this tribute to Cecil E. Roberts Great-Grandmother, "Ma" Blizzard!

Address

1300 Kanawha Boulevard , East
Charleston, WV
25301

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