15 Photos

Although in retrospect, this is probably the way most methane-dizzied miners saw things. Here our mining guide lights a carbide lantern. (Photo: WJLA/WJLA/TBD | Date: Jul. 22, 2011)

Fed up with this ridiculous heat, a caravan of us traveled to Beckley, W.Va., this weekend for a tour of the defunct Exhibition Coal Mine. Once a crown jewel in West Virginia's coal industry, the mine today functions as a tourist attraction after closing in 1910. But more importantly, it's a lovely 58 degrees in there every month of the year. As long as you don't stand up or breathe too deeply the mine's a great place to cool off during July in D.C. View its dark and deadly mysteries in this photo gallery.