McCreary County Museum -The Museum is located in the 1907 Stearns Coal & Lumber Company office building. It highlights the areas history from the Indian and pioneer era through the “boom” times of the coal and lumber industries. The exhibits cover many facets of Appalachian life in McCreary County.

Visit http://www.mccrearycountymuseum.com or call 606-376-5730 for more information. Your ticket aboard Big South Fork Scenic Railway includes admission to the Museum. The Museum charges an admission if not riding the train.

The Historic District has a variety of gift and craft shops and two restaurants. The downtown business district is only one block long, but this wonderful collection of original structures has a very rich history. This complex of buildings, ranging from 50 to 90 years old, have survived nearly intact.

The Soda Fountain is now home to the Stearns Restaurant. Known for its home cooking and family atmosphere. The Stearns Restaurant is open every day, except Monday, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For more information, call 606-376-5354.

Granny’s Quilts & More!!! now occupies what was once “Company Store # 1.” Granny’s carries hand crafted wooden items, antiques, and of course, quilts. Business hours are Tuesday - Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm. Phone 606-376-5778.

The post office building houses the Stearns Barber Shop and Tower Crafts. The Barber Shop is one of the oldest operating barber shops in McCreary County. So, feel free to stop in for a trim and catch-up on the local flavor. Tower Crafts is next door to the Barber Shop. Tower Crafts has a nice variety of country home décor and local hand made items. Tower Crafts is open Tuesday – Sunday. For business hours and more information, call 606-376-5644, or visit www.stores.ebay.com/towercraft

McCreary Heritage Community Center is located in the ground floor or basement level of what was once Company Store #1 & #3. The Community Center is perfect for a corporate outing, family reunion, or wedding reception. It seats up to 300 people in a beautiful historic setting. Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling the Big South Fork Scenic Railway, 800-462-5664.

The BSFSR Depot, built in 1902, is the oldest building in the Historic District and is next to Norfolk Southern’s mainline. The depot is an idea spot for train watchers to catch mainline action on the famous “Rat Hole” division.

The Depot has served a number of functions throughout the years, but today acts as the ticket office and boarding station for the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. The Depot also has a gift shop, fine dining, and information center. Sweet Kreations Gift Shoppe & Christmas Landing has a great selection of gift items, but is known more for the delicious varieties of fudge. Check out their website, www.sweetkreations.com or call 606-376-4050.

Suzanne’s Fine Dining, also in the depot, is open Friday and Saturday nights for dinner and Sunday for lunch buffet. The gourmet food in a historic setting is as pleasing as the original works of art that grace its walls. For menus and hours, visit www.suzannesdining.com or call 606-376-2253.

The Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Kentucky Visitor Center is located in the depot as well. The BSFNRRA-KY Visitor Center is open April through October. The River & Recreation Area covers 125,000 acres in Kentucky and Tennessee and offers an unspoiled paradise for outdoor lovers. For more information about BSFNRRA, visit www.nps.gov/biso or call 606-376-5730.

Other businesses in the historic district are the Stearns General Store, The Kentuckian, Coal Miners Jamboree, Outdoor Venture Corp., and Lubrication Specialties. The Stearns General Store and Kentuckian carry a variety of novelty and souvenir items. The Coal Miners Jamboree has live music shows on Friday and Saturday nights, April through October. Outdoor Venture Corp. is a military tent manufacturing facility and Lubrication Specialties blends custom oils and greases for heritage equipment, such as steam engines and grist mills.

When Coal, Lumber, & Railroads Were King…

In 1902, Justus S. Stearns of Ludington, Michigan bought 30,000 acres of virgin timberland in southern Kentucky. When coal was discovered soon afterwards, the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company was established. The company built the town of Stearns to serve as the hub of a logging and mining empire that would control over 200 square miles of land, build the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway, erect the first all electric sawmill in the U.S. and employ over 2,200 people living and working in 18 coal and lumber camps.

Most of the buildings in the Stearns business district were painted in company colors - sage green with white trim. The Company office headquarters building and surrounding Company houses were painted white with dark green trim. Residents enjoyed services provided by the Company, such as water and sewage, electricity, and steam heat for their homes. Recreation amenities included a golf course, tennis courts, pool hall, and baseball field for their leisure time.

The Kentucky & Tennessee Railway once stretched over 25 miles into the Big South Fork River valley and operated 12 steam locomotives. It served as the primary passage not only for timber and coal, but also for workers and supplies going to camps along its line. The K&T, like many shortline railroads operated steam locomotives several years after the mainline railroads had switched to diesel power. One of the more notable steam locomotives, Southern Railway No. 4501 was purchased by the K&T, re-lettered K&T No. 12, and operated until 1964. The only original K&T steam engine still in existence today is the K&T No. 10. Both No. 4501 and No. 10 are now located at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga.

In the 1950’s, the Stearns Company closed several coal mines and the K&T discontinued passenger service. By 1976, the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company had sold its mining operations to Blue Diamond Coal Company. The Company’s vast land holdings transferred to the National Forest, the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, and private ownership. Coal mining ceased along the K&T in 1987.

Today, the McCreary County Heritage Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, has taken on the task to preserve, protect, and interpret the rich history of one of the few company towns in America still surrounded by its coal, lumber and railroad roots. The National Historic District of Stearns, McCreary County Museum and Big South Fork Scenic Railway provide the tools necessary for the Heritage Foundation to keep this thriving history alive.

The restoration of an Alco, 0-6-0, Steam Locomotive, K&T No. 14, is an example of one of the many Heritage Foundation projects currently in the works. The Heritage Foundation is supported by admissions, grant funding, and private donations.