Britannia Mine Museum is a National Historic Site and internationally recognized tourist and educational destination, located on the Sea to Sky Highway, between Vancouver and Whistler. It provides an insight into the 112-year history of the Britannia Beach community, and encourages mining awareness through experiential educational programs, exhibits and entertaining events. You will not only enjoy the exhibits and engaging favourites like the underground mine train, the historic 20-storey concentrator mill and gold panning, but can also learn about Britannia’s history as one of the most productive copper mines in the British Commonwealth in the 1930s.
The underground mine and train ride take you deep inside a mining tunnel, where you can experience what it was like to mine back in 1914. You’ll learn about the drills and machines the miners used and gain an understanding of the mineralization process, and rich colours produced as minerals are exposed to water and air. The historic mill building is one of the last remaining gravity-fed concentrator mills in North America. The 20-storey building has been the symbol of Britannia over the years, perched upon a cliff overlooking Howe Sound, and was restored in 2007. The Beaty-Lundin Visitor Centre houses several theatrical mining displays, a gift shop and mineral gallery.
The 1908 machine shop displays a number of historic machines and pieces of equipment donated by mining companies from across the country. The core sheds are an immense archive of rock core samples, drilled from the mountainside, collected over the mining years in Britannia. And don’t miss the Gold Panning Pavilion, always a big hit with the family; a scenic boardwalk and cedar-post covered area where kids can spend hours panning for real gold, or visit the restored heritage buildings nearby. The Britannia Mine Museum is open sevan days a week from 9:00am to 5pm, with guided tours until 3:00.
Note: If you live in Furry Creek, Britannia Beach, Squamish or Whistler, you can enjoy Britannia Mine Museum’s Sea to Sky special. Show your driver’s license (or other proof of address) and receive 50% off admission Saturday the 10th, Sunday the 11th and Monday the 12th.