B.C. MUSEUM OF MINING
National Historic Site
Web: www.bcmuseumofmining.org
Open from May to October.

The Mining Museum is located 10 minutes south of Squamish on Hwy 99 at Britannia Beach.

This underground adventure is rich with excitement and education for the whole family. Visit the Mining House, travel back in time through the mine on the Underground Train. Truly a hard rock mining experience.

This site was first prospected in 1888 and by 1905 the mine was built and operating at full production. Over the years Britannia Beach and the mine would encounter a number of serious disasters. On March 21, 1915 an avalanche plowed through the camp killing 56 people and leaving many others injured. In 1921 the Mill No. 2 burned to the ground, also that same year a flood swept through the camp killing 36 people. After these events a new mill and camp had to be built. By 1929 (now operating in Mill No. 3), Britannia Mines was the largest copper producer in the whole British Commonwealth.

Over the years the mine began to suffer due to the depression, the war, strikes, and the world market prices. In addition the completion of the highway and the BC Rail line connecting Vancouver to Squamish forever changed the area of Britannia Beach. On November 1, 1974 after 70 years in operation the mine shut down permanently.

The BC Museum of Mining was first opened to the public in 1975 and in 1988 was declared a National Historic Site. It has also become a popular location for the filming of TV series' and movies alike. Different areas of the mine and Britannia Beach can be seen in a number of the "X- Files" episodes. So once again, yet in a different light the mine lives on.