Learning Adventure
An enticing welcome to Britannia Mine Museum in British Columbia.
Jutting up against a mammoth hill just off the Sea To Sky Highway is a valuable 20-storey relic. Once upon a time in the early 20th century, this towering behemoth was the beating heart of the area’s copper industry. This unique structure conceals the haunting inner workings of a mill and mine that was once the economic backbone of British Colombia. Today this award winning national treasure is open to visitors. We are going exploring deep underground at Britannia Mine Museum.
Contents
Educational Insights
Getting There
Many people travelling on the stunning Sea To Sky Highway (BC Route 99) along Howe Sound through Squamish are heading to Whistler. With this destination in mind, it is easy to pass by this incredible place without so much as a second glance. Even though a massive mill dominates the site, many hurry to get on the slopes as soon as possible. This is such a tragedy as it is an incredible piece of history. It is also a phenomenal educational opportunity for children of all ages.
400 tons of dumper truck at Britannia Mine Museum in British Columbia.
Our leisurely forty-five minute drive from Vancouver is greeted with 400 tons of dumper truck. Attempting to explain what 400 tons really means to a six year old boy is challenging in itself. Standing at 20 feet tall this truck is BIG and so was our son’s reaction. He is dwarfed by the 2.6 metre high wheels but that makes him love it even more. We know we are in for a treat as soon as we see this super-sized mine truck at the front of the Britannia Mine Museum.
Mine History
Originally open in the early 20th century, it didn’t take long for this mine to become the largest processor of copper in British Colombia. Other minerals such as gold and silver were extracted from the mountain but copper remained its main output. In its seventy year life, the mine had a fascinating history told through many of its 60,000 workers and residents. As the mine closed in 1974, it felt like a rare privilege to hear some of these stories and visit this incredible site.
Over the years, the stunning Mill 3 and its 400 metre long tunnels have been a popular film location. The beautiful backdrop of Howe Sound and the surrounding mountains make it a special place place to show on screen. Numerous Hollywood films and television programmes continue shooting here. Its haunting atmosphere and derelict looking industrial architecture make it a dramatic choice for filming.
Gold Panning
The entrance to the Britannia Mine Museum is very impressive, a hint of what is to come while visiting this 10-acre property. The museum recommends a minimum of 1 to 1.5 hours for a visit. However there is so much to see and do that any visit goes well beyond the suggested time.
After a quick mandatory photo stop at the massive mine truck, our son makes a beeline for the Gold Panning Pavilion. Panning for genuine gold and gemstones is a dream of every boy and this fed our son’s urge to search for treasure. Gold panning troughs are set at different heights. Both adults and children can have a go and try their luck. During the winter months, the water can be icy cold but it is quickly offset by the excitement of hunting for real gold.
Judging by the squeals of delight I hear behind me, I can only assume our son is finding enough gold to buy an entire museum. He quickly runs towards me with his fist tightly clenched protecting its precious contents. I wonder how I will ever pull him away from an activity that could easily keep him engaged for hours.
Deep Underground
Eager anticipation at the entrance to the underground mine at Britannia Mine Museum.
The real highlight of the visit is the Underground Tours, a real Canadian Signature Experience. Here we have the extraordinary opportunity to see what life was like at one of the British Empire’s largest copper mines. Just like the miners did in 1914, we donned hard hats supplied by the museum and boarded a mine train. We rumbled through an early haulage tunnel taking us through 110 years of history. During the 45 minute tour, we explored 210 kilometres (150 miles) of tunnels blasted through the mountains.
It is a deeply captivating experience for our son who loves wearing the hard hat and travelling through the tunnels underground. He is learning what it takes to be a miner and our guide even demonstrates original and extremely noisy working drills used in Britannia’s quest for copper. At one point during the tour, the guide turns off the lamps. We are shrouded in complete darkness in order to experience the miners’ working conditions by candlelight. This experience is a real eye-opening moment for any child as it brings the 1914 mine to life and the hardships the miners endured.
Boom!
Steep and dangerous staircase inside Mill 3 at Britannia Mine Museum in British Columbia.
BOOM! is a new immersive exhibit which brings Mill 3 to life once again. Brilliantly done with sound, lighting and moving effects, it pulls the viewer back through time to experience the mill in its heyday. In addition, it highlights a strong sense of community amongst the workers through their own personal stories while living and working onsite.
A recording of an actor narrates the show which literally brings the mill to life. There is a large screen displaying historic photos and a variety of educational graphs. The actor takes us through the fascinating process of copper extraction. His enthusiasm and humorous comments make it engaging and suitable for all ages.
The highlight of the experience are the show’s special effects timed in sync with the narration. Much to our son’s delight, there are grinding noises, steam, moving parts, smells and even flying sparks. A combination of all this effectively transports us back to the early 20th century when the mill was in full swing.
Mill 3 is an incredible piece of industrial architecture which is brought back to life with BOOM! We highly recommend this spectacular exhibit as part of the complete tour offered by the museum. Children will feel engaged while learning about the history of the mine and the geology of the area. It will leave them curious enough to want to learn more independently.
Geology Crash Course
There are so many more immersive and educational activities at the Britannia Mine Museum. We visit the Mineral Gallery with its entrancing displays of gold and fluorescent minerals. There is also an outdoor Foundations exhibit exploring Britannia’s 114 year history and the Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre.
Many of these galleries provide touch screen displays and interactive exhibits about mining making it easy for children to be hands on with their learning. We are able to explore seventeen original buildings across the ten-acre industrial heritage site which included Mill 3. There is also an award winning film that traces Britannia’s mining history and its successful environmental clean up. Every single one of these exhibits offers children a wealth of information compiled in an engaging way. It proves challenging moving our son along from one building to another as he is completely immersed in all these experiences.
Best Experience
Rumbling to a stop inside an early haulage tunnel deep underground at Britannia Mine Museum.
Exploring the Britannia Mine Museum is one of the best experiences for children we have encountered in the Vancouver/Whistler are. A visit to this museum is an outstanding opportunity to enhance a child’s understanding of the past, present and future of mining. This is successfully achieved through varied forms of entertainment, educational programmes and exciting exhibits. There is the underground train ride as well as seeing the different pieces of equipment used historically. Children learn to understand the harsh conditions faced by the miners in the past. There are a variety of galleries to visit with images and mining facts as well as activities such as panning for gold. These are all designed to be an unforgettable experience for any child. One of the highlights is undoubtedly the BOOM! exhibit which is not to be missed.
There is a tremendous amount of fascinating local and British history at the Britannia Mine Museum mixed with learning about the area’s geology. Fun activities and interactive exhibits are the focus at this fascinating museum. It is a must for children of all ages and an easy stop on the Sea To Sky Highway in travelling to Whistler by road or as a day trip from Vancouver.
Check out more information on the Britannia Mine Museum.
Travelling With Under 3s
If travelling with children under three, this is still a wonderful experience to be had for the little ones. Besides the panning for gold and interactive exhibits, there is a lovely playground for them to run off some energy. The underground tour is available for under 3’s. They are required to wear hardhats and short but loud demonstrations are expected along with momentary darkness. Parents will have to use their best judgement on this tour. On one of the visits to Britannia we brought along our two year old. It was just as enthralling for her as it was for our older son.
If bringing a baby buggy please note the following:
The onsite conditions are good overall but there is no buggy access to the entrance of the tunnels. Visitors will need to climb 48 steps (3 sets of 16) to reach the tunnels. At the exit there are no steps but a downhill gravel slope. The ground is uneven in places inside the underground tunnels.
The heritage buildings have a raised threshold.
The access to the machine shop is via pavement slabs, uneven gravel and a few stairs. Inside there is a ramp to the Temporary Exhibit Space.
Visiting Tips
Allow at least 2 hours to visit the museum, preferably longer if you with to visit all areas.
There are 48 steps to get to the departure area for the underground train. One can leave buggies safely inside one of the buildings before reaching the steps.
Dress warmly. The underground train ride can be chilly both summer and winter.
There are short, loud bursts of noise on the tour along with momentary darkness.
Visitors are free to wander the exhibits at their own pace with the exception of the Underground Tunnel tour.
Resources
If your child is interested in mining and geology, there are many resources to introduce the basic concepts.
Prepare them by offering information about rocks and minerals. Furthermore, discussing properties of minerals and the concept of mining will also help peak their interest in the subject.
In addition to this, exploring the geology of Britannia’s deposit with your child will help them to understand the surrounding land and how it was formed. An excellent source is The Sea To Sky Geo Tour. You can find this through Natural Resources Canada and it provides an introduction to tectonics, volcanoes, debris flows, glaciers and the general geological history of the area. There is also a Sea To Sky Touring Map that is available at various bookstores in the Vancouver area.
Check out our own Family Sea To Sky Geotour From Vancouver.