One especially clear historical thread in Midlothian leads back to the early history of coal mining in America. At Mid-Lothian Mines Park, the story stretches from the discovery of coal in 1701 to the start of commercial mining in the mid-1730s. When choosing accommodation in Midlothian, it helps to consider whether you want to focus mainly on industrial history, parkland, an event date or activities on the water. This lets you begin planning with the theme you want to shape your trip.
From early coal mining to preserved ruins
Mid-Lothian Mines Park is a 44-acre preservation area with preserved stone ruins from the mines. The dates make its historical focus tangible: the discovery of coal in 1701 was followed by the start of commercial mining in the mid-1730s. This makes it possible to understand the history as a progression from discovery to mining.
One especially striking remnant is the two-story granite ruin of Grove Shaft. It is the only surviving architectural evidence of a once-dominant local company associated with coal mining in the Richmond Coal Basin. This connects the history of mining to a specific architectural remnant and its former economic significance.
The site of Midlothian Elementary School was the location, around 1877, of the first known public school for Black students in Midlothian. The area's history therefore extends beyond coal mining to include its educational history.
Parks of different sizes
Midlothian Village Park is a 6-acre park in Midlothian. Compared with the 44-acre preservation area of Mid-Lothian Mines Park, the difference in size is clear: Village Park is considerably smaller, while the Mines area is described as a preservation area with mine ruins. If you want to focus on mining history, Mines Park offers a specific historical connection. Village Park represents a smaller park in Midlothian. The size figures help distinguish between these two park scales.
An October event and activities for children
The free, family-oriented Midlothian Day takes place annually on the third Saturday in October. For the 2026 event, the program includes a morning parade followed by a festival featuring hundreds of artisans, local artists and makers, food trucks, stage performances and activities for children. The specific program may change in later years.
Midlothian Library also offers interactive activities for children, including an outdoor classroom and a reading garden. Library activities also include book discussion groups and storytimes. After being rebuilt, the library reopened in 2024. Since children's activities may change, check the library's current information if a particular offering is important to your plans.
Activities on the James River and trails
Robious Landing Park provides easy access to the James River for kayaking, canoeing, rowing and fishing. The park also has 3.4 miles of trails. This offers a choice of activity focuses: those considering water sports can choose from four named activities, while those wanting to include trails have a specific distance of 3.4 miles to use in their planning.
The themes can be organized according to your interests: historical remains and local history, an annual October festival in the form of Midlothian Day, library activities or things to do on the water.
Explore more destinations: Brandermill, Moseley, Chester, Bon Air.
For the broader travel overview: Chesterfield.
