A Town Born from Coal Mines and Railroads--
By looking at Thurmond: A Town Born from Coal Mines and Railroads, students will examine the complex and often dangerous daily routines at the Thurmond train depot, and learn how rail workers were immortalized by some of the people they served. Those interested in learning more will find that the Internet offers a variety of interesting materials.
New River Gorge National Park
New River Gorge National Park is a unit of the National Park System.
This unit of the National Park System encompasses over 70,000 acres
of land along the New River between the towns of Hinton and Fayetteville.
Visit the park's web pages for
more information on the history and recreational activities at this
park which includes Thurmond Historic District.
Smithsonian Institution: National Museum of American History
Visit the Smithsonian's on-line America on the Move exhibit explores transportation history in the U.S. including the history of the development of rail commerce in the Industrial Age.
Library of Congress
American Railway Maps, 1828-1900
View the American Memory Collection of Railway Maps by searching with keywords or browsing by geographical location. Check out the sections titled "History of Railroads and Maps," "Related Resources," and "Learn More About It!"
Built in America:
Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER)
Search the HABS/HAER collection using keywords such as Thurmond, West Virginia to discover resources such historical photographs, data and architectural drawings on the various structures related to Thurmond's railroad industry.
Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society
The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society provides extensive information on this historic railroad. An interesting project of the Society revolves around the old C & O passenger cars. They have gathered photographs, engineering records and historical accounts of some of the remaining cars and are in the process of restoring them.
U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration's "Mining History, Museums and Disasters" features "Honoring the U.S. Miner" a pictorial walk through 20th-century mining as well as an exhibition on mining disasters. This site also links to mining museums in 30 states, including The Coal National Heritage Area, The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, and The National Coal Miner's Memorial in West Virginia.