Britannia Mine Museum
Winter hours:
Museum: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm - Last Tour: 2:30 pm
Company Store: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Chatterbox Cafe: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Online bookings are strongly recommended, please visit Britannia Mine Museum's website.
Located in beautiful Britannia Beach just 10 minutes south of Squamish, this 10-acre award-winning museum and National Historic Site is full of all-ages fun including rock and mineral activities, gold panning, museum tours and an underground mine train that you can ride on yourself. It rocks!
Museum Experience
Britannia Mine Museum opens up a little-seen world that fascinates all ages, offering awe-inspiring sights and memorable family experiences. Take a step back in time at this award-winning attraction and National Historic Site. Offering an immersive experience through a range of exhibits, tours and an award-winning, multi-sensory, live-action show, guests experience what it was like to be working and living in a remote, tight-knit community and consider their own personal connection with materials mined today.
Image: Britannia Mine Museum
BOOM!
An award-winning attraction right here at Britannia Mine Museum! Discover the captivating story of the Mill with an imaginative storytelling experience unlike anything else in North America. Staged within the almost 100-year-old Mill building, BOOM! will bring the architectural marvel thundering back to life with lights, sounds and special effects.
Terra Lab
The Terra Lab shares the science of mining exploration, development and remediation. When the mine was active, this building was one of the company’s assay labs - a space where scientists could test rock samples to determine their ingredients and concentration. This history is now reflected in the Terra Lab’s entry foyer, where you will find examples of authentic assay equipment and information about the kinds of experiments that were performed here.
Britannia Mine’s successful search for valuable minerals allowed the company to thrive, but it also had a far-reaching impact on the surrounding environment. In the main portion of the lab, graphics, specimens and multimedia displays examine the chemical process known as acid rock drainage, and the ways modern remediation is restoring biodiversity to Britannia’s waters.
After visiting the Terra Lab, visitors will take away concrete examples of how science, technology and community collaboration are creating a more sustainable mining future.
Mill 3
This incredible building is the reason behind the Britannia Mine Museum’s designation as a National Historic Site. Inside this stunning industrial landmark is where the ore was once processed. This iconic building is celebrating 100 years in 2023 with a special exhibit that will celebrate its incredible history.
Image: Britannia Mine Museum
Underground Tour
Experience what life as a miner would have been like in 1914 by climbing aboard the museum’s mine train that will take you inside an early haulage tunnel where you’ll find actual working drills and a mucking machine.
Good to Know: Temperatures underground average about 12 degrees Celsius. A sweater or light jacket is recommended.
Gold Panning Pavilion
It’s finders-keepers in the museum’s gold panning area where you’ll find panning troughs at various heights for visitors young and old to go for the gold.
Image: Britannia Mine Museum
Family Play Area
The Britannia Mine Museum is fully-equipped for family fun with a giant sand pit, playground boat and a snack area with nearby amenities.
Britannia A to Z Historical Exhibits
Learn what life in a mining town was really like in this beautifully-restored heritage building where you’ll find stories, archived photos and the original throne used in the Copper Queen pageant.
Minerals & Society in the Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre
This hands-on exhibit area has been specifically designed for little ones, with a Kids Place, award-winning film screenings, gold and mineral displays and interactive touch screens for an up-close look at the valuable world of mining. There’s even a Mining Hall of Fame!
