Red Jacket Memorial Trail

It is the goal of the Buchanan County Historical Society to help establish a walking trail that will serve as a memorial to the 45 miners killed in the April 22, 1938 explosion at the Red Jacket Coal Mine in Buchanan County, Virginia.  This explosion was the largest disaster of 1938 for the entire United States.  A memorial marker and information kiosk is planned to be placed at the trailhead along U.S. Route 460; part of the Virginia Coal Heritage Trail. Currently not a single marker, plaque or even road sign exists anywhere for this disaster.

The trail will seek to educate hikers not only about the mine explosion but also the rich history of the area.  With the use of a personal cell phone and QR code markers placed at various locations along the trail, historical photographs and videos would demonstrate the history of farming, logging, railroads, and mining in the region.  The trail will also follow the old Kentucky Turnpike for about 0.7 miles of its length.  This is one of the last remaining sections in its original pristine condition of this important historical route into Kentucky.  This route was constructed in the early 1800s and many sections along the proposed trail still have the original stone walls in place from the early 1800s - a truly rare find of historical significance that needs to be preserved.

The trail will also highlight the rich natural biodiversity and geology of Southwest Virginia.  Again, QR codes placed along the trail will identify trees, flowers, watersheds, and other natural wonders of the area.  Due to the excellent cell service along the entire route of the trail, these QR code signs would provide high speed data connections to information placed on a Red Jacket Memorial Trail site.  Information on this site could easily be updated and new information, pictures or instructional videos added without the need to change the QR signage on the trail. The signs would simply point to a link/video on the internet which could be changed as needed.  This will allow for a dynamic and changing experience for hikers along the trail from year to year.  QR codes placed on rock outcroppings will talk of the geologic history of the Appalachian Mountains and the earlier formation of the coal seams some 310 million years ago.  A fossil display could be placed along the trail that links to a video about the formation of the coal and sandstone deposits of the Cumberland Plateau.

In addition, the trail could serve to promote a healthy lifestyle.  QR codes along the trail could link to health tips and tell hikers of the health benefits of walking and being out in nature.  Calories burned along the trail could be marked at various intervals and would help to motivate people.  Scanning QR codes at the mine entrance site after the 1.75 mile hike might link to online coupons that could be redeemed at local attractions and/or businesses and thus encourage tourism in the area.  Healthy lifestyle tips and videos could be created and updated by the faculty and students of the Appalachian College of Pharmacy which, in fact, is overlooked by the Red Jacket mine site at Oakwood, Virginia.  The trail could be utilized by local high school groups, community organizations, etc to learn of our rich natural and historical heritage.

Historical/Nature QR code markers might possibly be sponsored annually by local businesses/individuals which might help to offset any upkeep costs on the trail or parking areas.

The vision for this trail is to blend history, natural beauty, and technology to create a unique hiking experience in far Southwest Virginia.  In closing, the creation of a memorial hiking trail at the Red Jacket Mine site would not only provide a boost to tourism in the region but would be a vehicle to promote learning and help to preserve our rich cultural history.