National Mining Museum Scotland
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Discover the history, life and legacy of mining at this award-winning visitor attraction.
Nine miles south of Edinburgh is the former Lady Victoria Colliery, one of the finest surviving Victorian collieries in Europe, and now the National Mining Museum of Scotland. Here, over 40 million tons of coal were produced, with more than 120 pit ponies employed for over three decades.
The mine ceased production in 1981, and has been transformed into an award-winning visitor attraction (Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions). The museum tells the story of coal from its creation over 360 million years ago, explores the mining life and offers guided tours of the pithead by former miners.
Visitors can even drive Scotland's largest steam engine, which hauled men and coal up and down the pit shaft for 90 years, and is still operational. Discover a collection of over 60,000 artefacts, and hear anecdotes from ex-miners first hand.