3.11.10

mining rocks!





This past summer, while Hubby and I were visiting the Maritime Museum in Victoria, we realized that we both really enjoy visiting different museums.  So, we decided that we should start taking advantage of the different museums and attractions that Vancouver has to offer.
We figured that we should stick to our plan, so just over a month ago Hubby and I (along with our bestest friends M & J) visited the Britannia Mine Museum.  I had been once before, but that was many, many years ago when I was in elementary school, so the experience was pretty much new to all of us. 



 If you've ever driven to Squamish or Whistler, you will have (probably) noticed the massive white structure from the road.  This is known as Mill No. 3 and is the mine's old concentrator which was used to separate the copper from the rock.




Mill No. 3 is pretty neat, but I have to say that the coolest part of the museum is the fact that you actually get to go into the mine itself.  You hop aboard a train which takes the group deep inside the mining tunnel and, once inside, the tour guide demonstrates the different tools and machines that the miners used - pretty cool!



During the time that we spent inside the mine, I kept imagining what it would be like to work in this environment; how hard it would be to spend your day in a damp, dark, and cramped space.  This experience was also personal for me as my Opa spent a number of years working at the Britannia Mine.

Apart from the Mill and the mine tour, there are lots of other interesting things to discover and explore.  You can pan for gold, view rare and gorgeous gems in the Mineral Gallery, and even watch a short video on the history of the mine. 



It was a really neat experience and a fun weekend activity.  If you've never been (or haven't been in a number of years) I encourage you to check it out!

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