Blenko Glass and Beckley Coal Mine

On Friday we were driving to Beckley and saw a sign for a glass factory. Mom wanted to go so we whipped into the exit. We followed the signs until we found Blenko Glass Factory. They start with sand and end with handmade glass objects.

Don’t hold me to any of this. The furnaces, depending on the color or type of glass, are between 1,700 and 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit. If the furnace is allowed to cool down the structure of the furnace will fall down. The furnaces are run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Some of them have been running for 30 years!

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

After we stopped at Blenko we kept driving to our original destination, Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. After we got there we bought our tickets. Then we toured some of the miner‘s houses and exhibits. Then we took the tour.