Big Stone Gap

Big Stone Gap is a town in the Appalachian Mountains within Wise County, Virginia, located in a valley between hills. The downtown area sits at the base of steep terrain where most buildings and shops are clustered together.

The settlement was first called Mineral City before taking its present name in 1888 as coal and iron mining expanded in the area. Mining shaped the town's growth and brought workers and businesses that built the community around extraction industries.

The Southwest Virginia Museum displays items from mining families and shows what daily life looked like underground. Walking through the exhibits, you see the tools, clothing, and personal belongings that miners used and carried.

Bring comfortable shoes because the town sits on hilly terrain and walking around the area is popular with visitors. Fall is the best season to explore, with mild weather and colorful forest surroundings that make walking more enjoyable.

In 2018 the town passed the first resolution in the country supporting the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund for miners with respiratory illness. This action recognized the sacrifices miners made and the lasting health problems they faced from underground work.

Location: Wise County

Elevation above the sea: 468 m

Website: http://bigstonegap.org

GPS coordinates: 36.88170,-82.74720

Latest update: December 12, 2025 10:48