Coal mining in the Ottumwa area dates back to at least 1857. By the late 1800s, mines were operating around the city, particularly north and northwest of Ottumwa.
In 1889, state records listed 15 mine shafts in Ottumwa. One of the area’s major operations was the Phillips Coal and Mining Company, which eventually operated six shafts near the Phillips and Rutledge area.
Coal provided jobs for hundreds of local workers and helped fuel Ottumwa’s growing railroad and industrial economy.
The importance of coal was so great that Ottumwa built the famous Coal Palace in 1890. The massive exhibition building was designed to showcase the area’s coal industry and other products. Visitors could even experience a replica underground coal mine beneath the building.
The Coal Palace only stood for a few years and was demolished around 1892, but coal mining continued to be an important part of Ottumwa’s history for decades.
Today, most of the mines are gone, and many people driving through Ottumwa may never realize how closely the city was once connected to the coal industry.
