The Museum site itself is an exhibit - an immersive historical experience with plenty of things to see and do. From mucking machines to ore carts and our working Lime Tank, come explore some of the equipment that once made Britannia great. We also house permanent exhibits that offer an insight into the social history of the Britannia Mines and mining history of BC. Our 1908 Machine Shop is also home to a number of historic pieces of equipment, from our restored ambulance car, to the man car that squeezed sixteen miners into a space about the size of a small family car. Parents with children 3 and under can find more information here.
Innovators
In recognition of the Innovation 150 celebration, we take a look at some of the innovations that helped the Britannia Mine become the success that it was.
Moving Through Time: Transportation
“Probably no feature of mine operation is more responsible for economic results than transportation; and certainly no mine in this country had its transportation system so highly developed as at Britannia.” -- Marilyn Mullan
Sports and Recreation
The Company made sure there were plenty recreational facilities and events in order to attract workers and their families to come to this isolated Mine.
Pieces from the Collection
The care for a collection of artefacts is an important part of a museum’s mission. It is the responsibility of the museum to look after the objects in perpetuity – basically forever.
Mount Sheer, "the Townsite"
The community of Mount Sheer – fondly known as the Townsite – was nestled in the valley above Britannia Beach. This settlement was sometimes called “the other town" because there were two towns at Britannia.
The 1921 Flood
The steep mountain slopes around the Howe Sound inlet near Vancouver, offer a stunning backdrop to a few small communities that dot the inlet's edges. Yet behind the beauty lies an ever-present risk of debris slides and floods.
Over 100 years of Micro Hydro
A hundred years ago Britannia Beach was a very remote little village on the BC coast. If a mine was to open it was going to need power so there was no choice but to produce electricity here.
Safety At Britannia
Mining has often been thought of as a dangerous profession and historically it was. Safety issues ranged from handling explosives and powerful equipment to risks such as gas build-up, cave-ins, and dust.
The Jane Slide Tragedy
The story of Britannia’s discovery is a story of legend. Told countless times is the tale of how Dr. A.A. Forbes first found copper ore at Britannia in 1888. Told less often is the story of what followed.
