Kentucky Coal Crafters

Kentucky Coal Crafters Figurines and jewelry handcrafted with coal. Selling both wholesale and retail. After buying the business I relocated it to Pikeville, Ky.

Kentucky Coal Crafters began as Midwest Crafts in Whitley City, Ky from 1975-2002. Alvin Powell and Buddy Wilson decided to buy the mold and mixing secrets and open as Kentucky Crafters and moved to Stearns Ky next to the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. Along the way, Buddy left and two new partners, Rosetta and Milton joined Alvin and continued coal crafting until September 2023 when they approach

ed me about buying their business. Alvin who was there from the beginning has trained me in the art of coal crafting and making the molds for the figurines. Coal crafting is a process of mixing coal dust with resin and pouring the mixture into molds that are made on site. I am also able to make custom pieces as long as there is something I can use to form the mold. I am also bringing jewelry back to the catalog and website. I sell both retail and wholesale to businesses with a resell certificate. There are several places nearby selling our items. As I get the chance I will add those to this page. A few place where you can by KCC figurines: Jenny Wiley State Park, Prestonsburg, Ky; Breaks Interstate Park, Breaks, Va; Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park, Big Stone Gap, Va; Kentucky Coal Museum, Benham, Ky; Anthracite Heritage Museum, Scranton, Pa; Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, Beckley, Wv and Honeysuckle Vine, Berea, Ky.

Six of these custom figures are making their way over to the Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham, Kentucky, part of Southeast...
09/05/2026

Six of these custom figures are making their way over to the Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham, Kentucky, part of Southeast Community & Technical College. If you haven't been, that place has four full floors packed with rich coal mining history and heritage.
Take a good look at this old timer right here. Hands tucked down in his pockets, big old chaw of to***co bulging in his cheek... you just know he's getting ready to spit and spin a big yarn. Might be 100% true, might be a little stretched, but if you've spent any time around these parts, you know you've seen him and you've heard him before!
All six will be arriving at the museum gift shop during September. If you're down in that neck of the woods, stop in, check out the amazing museum, and visit the new additions!

Moonshine Man is done and he’s raising the roof with that big old toothless grin! He’s clutching onto that moonshine jug...
09/04/2026

Moonshine Man is done and he’s raising the roof with that big old toothless grin! He’s clutching onto that moonshine jug like it’s the last call at a barn dance, and he’s lounging like he owns the weather itself. Handcrafted from coal right here in the hills, he’s in the gift shop waiting on anyone who dares to bring a wild conversation piece into their home. Come on by, grab one, and let the Appalachian chaos do the rest!

I finished making five of these old-style miner caps, and these are replicas of the caps miners once wore with a carbide...
09/04/2026

I finished making five of these old-style miner caps, and these are replicas of the caps miners once wore with a carbide lamp mounted right on the front.

Just stop and think about that for a minute. These men went underground in the darkness with an actual flame burning on top of their heads.

Carbide lamps became popular in the early 1900s because they produced a bright, clean light compared to the older oil-wick lamps. The carbide and water produced acetylene gas, which burned with a bright flame. The lamps were compact, and mounting one on the miner’s cap gave him the advantage of having both hands free to work.

But there was a serious danger. That open flame could ignite methane gas, often called firedamp, which was one of the greatest dangers in coal mining. Miners also faced roof falls, poor ventilation, dangerous machinery, haulage accidents, coal dust, and many other hazards. Safety lamps had been developed to help detect dangerous gases and reduce the risk of explosions, but they were heavier, gave less light, and were not as convenient as the cap-mounted lamps.

It’s hard for us today to imagine going to work, crawling into a dark coal mine, and having a flame burning on our cap. Later, electric cap lamps and battery packs changed mining considerably, but those old carbide lamps are a reminder of just how far mining technology and safety have come.

Most importantly, they remind us of the men who did the work.

Here in Eastern Kentucky, coal mining isn’t just history. It’s part of our families, our communities, and our heritage. We appreciate the miners who went underground every day and endured conditions most of us can only imagine.

These five miner caps are headed to the Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham, Kentucky. If you’ve never visited, make it a point to go. The museum does a wonderful job preserving and sharing the history of coal mining and the people who made this region what it is.

We should never forget what those miners endured to provide for their families and help build this country.

This is Maw and Paw handcrafted from coal and heading toward Benham, Kentucky, to the Kentucky Coal Museum, which is par...
09/03/2026

This is Maw and Paw handcrafted from coal and heading toward Benham, Kentucky, to the Kentucky Coal Museum, which is part of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College.

You can just feel the love this couple has shared over the years.

Paw’s got on his bib overalls and is holding his walking cane, with his arm around Maw. Maw has her kitchen apron on and her hair tucked up under a bonnet.

And I don’t know about y’all, but when I look at this piece, I can just about smell the chicken and dumplings, green beans, and cornbread coming from the kitchen. That’s just how it hits me.

And we all know couples just like this, whether it’s our grandparents, our parents, or someone we know — friends, neighbors, or maybe even ourselves someday.

There’s something about Maw and Paw that just takes you back to a simpler time.

This is one of my favorite pieces, and I’m mighty proud to see it heading to Benham.

So if you’re in that neck of the woods and you like this one, stop by the Kentucky Coal Museum sometime this month and take a look at Maw and Paw.

I just wrapped up an order of 12 handcrafted pick and shovel magnets heading over to the Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham,...
09/03/2026

I just wrapped up an order of 12 handcrafted pick and shovel magnets heading over to the Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham, Kentucky.
Working on these pieces always brings a moment of pause. In this day and age, it is hard for any of us to fully comprehend what early miners faced underground. They worked in complete darkness, cramped into low seams, swinging a hand pick to undercut the coal face, and then shoveling every single pound by hand into mine cars for 10 to 12 hours a day, five or six days a week.

How Pick-and-Shovel Mining Began
Long before mechanized continuous miners, roof bolters, and conveyor belts transformed the industry, coal extraction relied entirely on muscle, iron, and grit.
The Early Days: Commercial coal mining in the United States began in the mid-18th century, with early operations in Virginia and Pennsylvania before expanding rapidly into the rich coalfields of Eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The "Breastwork" Method: Before explosives and power tools were widely used, miners worked using the "room and pillar" system. A two-man crew would lie on their sides on the damp room floor, using a short-handled pick to cut a deep horizontal slot—known as an undercut—at the base of the coal seam.
Hand Loading: Once the coal was wedged down from above, every chunk had to be hand-shoveled into wooden mine cars, often while working on knees or stooped double in seams less than four feet high. A single miner was expected to hand-load anywhere from 10 to 15 tons of coal per shift.
It was grueling, dangerous work that laid the foundation for modern power and industry across the nation.
Crafting these miniature pick and shovel sets is just my small way of keeping that history alive and honoring the heritage of the men who went underground to power this country.
If you are ever near Benham, be sure to stop by the Kentucky Coal Museum to see their incredible collection of Appalachian mining history.

NEW HANDCRAFTED COAL MOONSHINE JUGS HEADED TO BENHAM!Three more completed! I just finished hand crafting three coal moon...
09/02/2026

NEW HANDCRAFTED COAL MOONSHINE JUGS HEADED TO BENHAM!
Three more completed! I just finished hand crafting three coal moonshine jugs, and they are headed down to the Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham, Kentucky.
If you haven't visited the museum lately, you really ought to make the trip. As part of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, it is a fantastic, educational stop for both kids and adults to learn about our region's rich coal mining heritage.
Be sure to check out their gift shop to grab one of these handcrafted pieces for your own collection, and support a great local institution while you're there!

I finished making the two bears coal figurine today, and I have to admit, I always get a little proud when I finish a pr...
09/01/2026

I finished making the two bears coal figurine today, and I have to admit, I always get a little proud when I finish a project like this.

One of these bears is headed to the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum in Benham, Kentucky. They ordered one, and it should be there sometime in September.

There’s just something special to me about taking a plain old piece of Kentucky coal and turning it into something folks can enjoy. Coal has been such a big part of our history around here, and I’m thankful to be able to do my little part in keeping that heritage alive.

So, if you happen to be down around Benham, stop by and visit the museum. It’s a pretty neat place, full of history, and well worth your time. Check out the gift shop while you’re there, and if you see my little bear, tell them Mike sent you!

I sure do appreciate the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum for supporting my work. It means more than they probably know.

I’m super excited to announce that Kentucky Coal Crafters has a brand-new dealer!The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Muse...
08/31/2026

I’m super excited to announce that Kentucky Coal Crafters has a brand-new dealer!

The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum⁠ in Owensboro, Kentucky, has just placed their first order with me, and I couldn’t be more honored or appreciative of their trust in me to supply some handcrafted coal items for their gift shop!

Now, this isn’t just any museum. The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history, culture, and future of bluegrass music. Owensboro has been deeply connected to bluegrass for decades, with the International Bluegrass Music Association founded there in 1986, and the Hall of Fame calling Owensboro home since 1991.

The current state-of-the-art museum opened in 2018 after a $15.3 million investment. Visitors can explore permanent and rotating exhibits, historic instruments and artifacts, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, and an impressive video oral history collection featuring interviews with more than 225 important bluegrass artists and musicians.

The museum offers more than 9,000 square feet of active exhibit space and is located right along the Ohio River in historic downtown Owensboro. There are also concerts, educational programs, music lessons, open bluegrass jams, special events, and the 447-seat Woodward Theatre.

And if you ever visit, make sure you leave a little extra time to browse the gift shop. You might just find a little piece of Eastern Kentucky coal craftsmanship waiting for you!

From a small business owner and coal craftsman here in Eastern Kentucky, it means a whole lot when an organization like the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum places their trust in my work.

Thank you to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum for giving Kentucky Coal Crafters this opportunity. I truly appreciate your confidence in me, and I’m excited to see where this partnership goes!

If you’re ever in Owensboro, stop in and check them out. Bluegrass music is a big part of Kentucky’s heritage, and this place is helping preserve that history for generations to come!

The Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham, Kentucky has ordered a dozen each of the magnets: the cross with praying hands, the ...
08/30/2026

The Kentucky Coal Museum in Benham, Kentucky has ordered a dozen each of the magnets: the cross with praying hands, the steam locomotive, the Kentucky state shape, and the pick and shovel. They’ll be in the gift shop sometime in September. If you’re in the Benham area, swing by and look around. It’s run under the guidance of Southeast Community & Technical College, and there are four floors packed with coal country history and all kinds of things to see.

Address

130 Power Drive
Pikeville, KY
41501

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 8:30pm - 12pm

Telephone

+16063767535

Website

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