About Us

HImler House sits on a hill in Beauty, KY, overlooking route 40 and Buck Creek Road.  The waters of the Buck Creek flow down in front of the hill, in the area that  was once was known as Himlerville.  This was a Coal Camp established by Martin Himler and he built his house to overlook the bustling community.  Mr. Himler, was a Magyar (Hungarian) immigrant, who brought his vision of a new and innovative coal mine company, to the rich coal laden hills of Eastern KY. Himler Coal Company was established and was modeled to have divided shares that were sold and held by an exclusive group of people.  This group being Magyar immigrants, who in addition  to holding Himler Coal Company shares, also held American Citizenship. 

Business was booming for the Coal Company and Himler House looked down on a self- sustaining, proud coal community.  As Martin HImler held an important role in the company and community, so did his house. HImler House hosted feasts, dinners, and weddings as well as,  accommodating several dignitaries from local, distant, and abroad.  It was a house, built by the Magyar, for a man with a vision for his fellow countrymen.  These were a people who loved America, "owners of their own destiny" and were not afraid of hard work to make it so.  This house is where great hospitality once was practiced in a Magyar manner and it is, with high hopes, that we see the house do the same thing again.  

The Martin County Historical and Genealogical Society envisions the restored Martin Himler home to become a center for Magyar (Hungarian) immigrant culture and Kentucky coal mining history.  The Society hopes to gain national landmark designation for the Himler home and believes that the restoration and preservation of the historic sites at Himlerville/Beauty, Kentucky, will bring tourism, entrepreneurial opportunities, and economic growth to Martin County and surrounding counties.