Cherry Coal Mine Museum Tour

Step inside the story of 1909 at the Cherry Mine Disaster Museum and Library, where history is preserved through the voices, artifacts, and memories of a community forever changed. This self-guided tour invites you to explore the events of the Cherry Mine fire that claimed 259 lives and left a lasting mark on American labor and safety laws.

As you move through the exhibits, you’ll encounter photographs, personal belongings, diaries, and mining tools that bring the human story into focus. Detailed displays and historical records trace the timeline of the disaster, from the fire underground to the heroic rescue efforts and the long aftermath that followed. Along the way, you’ll gain insight into daily life in a 1909 coal town and the resilience of the families who endured unimaginable loss.

This is more than a look back at a tragic day—it’s an opportunity to understand how a small Illinois village helped shape safer working conditions nationwide. Take your time, reflect, and experience the history that still echoes through Cherry today.