About

The Upper Big Branch Mining Memorial Group, INC was established as a non-profit organization in February of 2011 to build a permanent memorial to twenty-nine men killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Coal Mine on April 5th, 2010.

After viewing preliminary sketches, the group partnered with Rob Dinsmore and Chapman Technical Group to design the memorial and surrounding plaza. Shortly after agreeing on a budget, the group set out to secure funding for the project.

By the Fall of 2011, the memorial group had exceeded its fund raising goal of $500,000 and had turned its focus to planning the construction of the monument base and plaza. Pray Construction was selected to manage the project and ground was broken at the site in January of 2012.

Following seven months of construction the Upper Big Branch Miners Memorial was completed and dedicated during a ceremony on July 27th, 2012.

Upper Big Branch Mining Memorial Group, Inc.
25586 Coal River Rd.
Orgas, WV 25148

President- Sheila Combs
Vice President- Michael Gwinn II
Treasurer- Pamela Miller
Tim Combs