Moweaqua Coal Mine Museum
129 S. Main
TEL: 217-768-3019

Moweaqua suffered a disastrous coal mine explosion on Christmas Eve, 1932 resulting in the loss of 54 miners’ lives. The Coal Mine Museum in Moweaqua was established on May 25, 1986 explicitly to commemorate the 1932 mine disaster and recall the lives lost. And it presents Moweaqua’s coal mining history. The museum has historic documents, photographs and artifacts.

Marabeth Sarver, creator and curator of the museum

MINING DISPLAYS

As succinctly explained by the Illinois Labor History Society, “Although coal mining in Moweaqua dates back to 1891, the Moweaqua Coal Corporation was created by a group of local businessmen in 1932 in an effort to keep a coal mine operating in the town. The mine was leased from the Pana Coal Company which had intended to close the mine. At this same time, many miners across the state broke away from the United Mine Workers and formed the Progressive Miners of America. The Moweaqua Mine was organized by the Progessives. It is also notable that the workers in the mine were also shareholders in the Moweaqua Coal Company.” 

Less than three months later, on Christmas Eve day, an explosion of methane gas in the mine killed 54 miners.

ABUNDANT COVERAGE OF THE DISASTER AT THE MUSEUM

   

The museum holds extensive newspaper coverage of the tragedy.

The museum is tremendously interesting but, unfortunately, it does not have regular hours and is therefore difficult to visit.