Rosebud plans to set up a non-profit group to oversee the museum in Windber, about 90 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh, and control its exhibits.

The producer recently purchased the facility from the non-profit fund, The Progress Fund, which opened the museum in 1998 but due to state budget cuts was close to closure before the sale.

"Five years ago the museum was open 40 hours a week, nearly every week,” The Progress Fund president David Kahley told local media outlets, noting that for the past three years the doors were only open in summer.

Rosebud was not affiliated with any mining companies involved in the Quecreek mine flood of July 2002 that trapped nine workers who were all rescued about two day later.

However, many local news outlets reported that Rosebud officials learned of the closure from other industry contacts and decided to buy the facility.

"We are happy to make an investment to keep the center open for the community and to celebrate the hard-working coal miners," Rosebud president Cliff Forrest said this week.

“This facility houses not only the history of the coal industry, but also provides a unique perspective of the individuals who worked in the mines.

“It’s a great tribute to those individuals, as well as the generations of miners who followed them and who still work hard today.”

The operator purchased the building as well, and will use part of it for office space to serve the former Bethlehem Steel Mine 78 and a coal-processing plant Rosebud opened in 2007.

“The coal miner plays a major role in the energy supply chain by providing the resource to power over half of the electricity in Pennsylvania and the entire country,” Forrest said.

“Now, more than ever, it is important for the public to recognize the hard-working miner and the value of coal as an abundant energy resource.”

Rosebud has 15 deep mines and six coal preparation plants in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.