the history of mining
from those who lived it
The Watts Museum’s current exhibit features the work of George Pickow, a prominent twentieth-century photographer and filmmaker.
Taken in 1948, these images of Appalachian mining towns reveal Pickow's perspective on mid-century coal camp life. Throughout the exhibit, Pickow's point of view is supplemented by the perspectives of two other groups—the U.S. government and coal camp residents. Presenting these three points of view side-by-side will help visitors to think critically about the multiple realities of living and working in Appalachia’s coal communities.