Britannia Mine Museum's Page

The Britannia Mine Museum is a newly transformed, historical destination on Britannia Beach, BC located just 10 minutes south of Squamish between Vancouver and Whistler. The Britannia Mine Museum, which is both a National Historic Site and a BC Historic Landmark, was established in 1971 and is a premier, non-profit organization governed by the Britannia Beach Historical Society.

Revitalized in 2010 with a major $14.7-million three-phase redevelopment project, the reinvented Museum celebrates the contribution of mining and minerals to society, the history of the storied Britannia Beach community and the ideas and practices of environmental renewal and sustainability.

It promotes mining awareness through fun educational programs, historic collection preservation and insightful public that enables guests to leave with a better understanding of mining in BC; past, present, and future.

The Museum also commemorates the accomplishments and ingenuity of Canada’s mining pioneers and showcases the evolution of the mining industry, its advances and achievements. It highlights Canadian innovation and leadership in sustainable mining and resource development and environmental stewardship.

Open seven days a week, the Museum offers exciting new and existing venues for exploration, discovery and local arts and culture, featuring:

• The Beaty-Lundin Visitor Centre – A brand new building visitors will experience when entering the museum. It houses several theatrical mining exhibits and a mineral gallery, a new theatre space, a gift shop and the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame where visitors can learn about Canadian mining pioneers.

• The A-Z Administration Building – The museum fully restored an original heritage building to create this new exhibition centre to showcase the stories of the Britannia Beach community during the 70 years it existed as a mining town.

• The Historic Mill Building - A National Historic Site and one of the last remaining gravity-fed concentrator mills in North America, the Mill Building is an awe-inspiring building that has been the symbol of Britannia throughout the years. Restored in 2007, each of the 14,416 panes of glass was hand-puttied into the frames to maintain its heritage.

• The Underground Mine & Train Ride – A memorable underground train ride deep inside a mountain mine where visitors will experience what life was like for miners back in the day.

• The Village Board Walk & Gold Panning Area – Stroll down the scenic boardwalk to experience the newly restored heritage buildings and feel the thrill of discovery when visitors find a glint of gold when panning for real gold.

• The Event Plaza – A new central gathering place where special events and demonstrations will be held.

• Machine Shop – The 1908 Machine Shop is home to a number of historic pieces of equipment and machines such as the restored ambulance car.

• Core Sheds – An immense archive of rock core samples drilled from the mountainside as you walk down from the underground mine.

• EPCOR Britannia Mine Water Treatment Plant - Represents Britannia's environmental remediation legacy. Britannia Mines had an environmental impact on Howe Sound due to acid rock drainage, which occurs naturally when rainwater reacts with oxygen and exposed minerals. The water treatment plant uses natural materials to filter minerals and neutralize surface water runoff collected from the area, resulting in clean water flowing into Howe Sound.

• Children’s Play Area – Young visitors can play in this expanded sunlit, protected, mining-themed play area where they can have fun in a Super Haul truck and imagine themselves as miners using toy diggers, trucks and hoppers.