Coal House

Coal House is a three-story building with exterior walls made of black coal blocks arranged in a regular pattern. The structure shows how the coal material was systematically processed into a sturdy and long-lasting building.

The building was constructed in 1933 by architect Hassel T. Hicks during the peak of West Virginia's mining industry. The choice to use coal as a building material reflected the economic strength and industrial pride of the region at that time.

The building shows the mining past of the region through its striking facade made of black coal blocks. Visitors see directly on the walls how local people wanted to celebrate their industry using materials from their own land.

The building is located in the heart of Williamson and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should take time to carefully observe the coal blocks and how they were processed to fully appreciate this unique construction.

The building contains about 65 tons of coal from the region, making it one of the few structures in the world where coal serves as the primary building material. This experimental approach shows how designers tried to use local resources in an innovative way.

Location: Williamson

Inception: 1933

Architects: Hassel T. Hicks

GPS coordinates: 37.67194,-82.27778

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:07