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Location DB > Canada > British Columbia > Britannia Beach > Britannia Mine
 Name
Britannia Mine
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by simmorill on 2/14/2006 12:32 AM
last modified by Emperor Wang on 11/18/2023 12:42 AM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Former mine turned museum offering educational exhibitions & artifacts from the mining industry. Mined primarily metal sulphides, including pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, gold and silver.
 Basic Information
Type: Open mine shaft with support and processing buildings
Status: Semi-active
Accessibility: Easy - if you take the tour
Recommendation: drop everything - must see
 Physical Information
Address
150 Copper Dr.
Britannia Beach, British Columbia
Canada
Owner: Britannia Mine Museum
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • rust
  • unsafe flooring
  • water
  • air quality
  •  Interesting Features
    Open mine shaft, sorting building and interesting mining features.
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • barbed wire
  • part-time guard
  • tour guides
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1899
    Closed: 1974
     Required Equipment
     Recommended Equipment

     History
    A man of all talents, Dr. Forbes came out to the Howe Sound area to do some hunting. The year was 1888. One afternoon just before sunset, Forbes shot at a buck deer. The deer's flailing hooves exposed mineralized rock below the moss, and copper was discovered at Britannia Mountain.

    Intrest in the area built slowly, but in 1899, mining engineer George Robinson was able to convince financiers that the area had potential to return their investment. Under the command of Mr. Robinson, the first ore was shipped to the Crofton Smelter on Vancouver Island in 1904. The next year saw the mine achieve full production.

    The mine was upgraded in 1912, and soon the No. 2 mill was churning out 2000 tons of ore a day. World War 1 saw copper prices rise dramatically, and the mine was making money hand over fist.

    Then disaster struck. On March 25, 1915, and avalanche distroyed the town, killing 60 men, women and children. Work began imediatly on a new town at 2200ft. At the end of WW1, copper prices dropped dramatically, and the mine faced a temporary shutdown. During this time, No. 2 mill burnt to the ground. In October of the same year, a flood wiped out the small village on the banks of the river. 37 people were killed.

    The mining company commenced building No. 3 mine and a new town. Between 1929 and 1939, the mine produced copper, zinc and pyrate. At the end of WW2, with copper prices dropping again, the mine began a slow decline. By 1959, the mine had only 7 employees, and was forced into liquidation. The mine changed hands in 1963, and concrete production began. The mine enjoyed another 10 years of fruitful work before it was eventually shut down in 1974.

    During the 70 years that the mine was in operation, over 60,000 people worked for the mine and raised their families in the area. In 1975 the B.C. Museum of mining was opened to the public, and in 1988, it was designated a national historic site.

    Today it is one of the only mines offering tours in the tunnels, and it gives a fabulous snapshot of the life of a miner in the early days of British Columbia.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans

     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Family trip
    Tue, Feb 14th, 2006
    posted by simmorill
    16 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Night Trip
    Mon, Mar 20th, 2006
    posted by Anavrin
    15 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Opex Trip
    Fri, Sep 1st, 2006
    posted by nobody
    11 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Random Britannia!
    Mon, Oct 27th, 2008
    posted by SteamPunk
    10 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    What once was old is new again!
    Tue, Jul 27th, 2010
    posted by KAPS
    1 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    quite a day!
    Sat, Oct 9th, 2010
    posted by KAPS
    1 pictures


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Web Links
    https://www.britanniaminemuseum.ca/
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    Category Rating
    Photography 7 / 10
    Coolness 8 / 10
    Content Quality 8 / 10
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 11/18/2023 12:43 AM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Nov 18 23 at 0:43, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Nov 18 23 at 0:42, Emperor Wang changed the following: Type, Interesting Features, Security Measures, Description
  • on Sep 22 22 at 1:36, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Sep 22 22 at 1:35, Emperor Wang changed the following: History
  • on Sep 21 22 at 20:30, fr00tCake changed the following: Owner, Type, Street Address, Latitude, Longitude, Co-ordinate Accuracy, Media Coverage, Description, Web Links
  • on Oct 14 10 at 5:30, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Oct 14 10 at 0:58, simmorill made this location public
  • on Oct 10 10 at 15:46, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Oct 9 10 at 3:59, KAPS updated gallery quite a day!
  • on Oct 9 10 at 3:58, KAPS added some pictures to a gallery
  •  Forum Threads about this Location
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     SubjectStarted ByRepliesViewsLast Post
    You must log in for this feature to work.X-FilesCopySix4113811/11/2006 5:44 PM by Samurai
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