Britannia Mine Museum
Go For Gold!
Go for gold at the historic Britannia Mine Museum. Located at 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. Ride an underground mining train and explore interactive displays, rock and mineral activities, gold panning, and tours. Britannia Mine, which boasts 210 kilometres of mining tunnels, became Canada’s largest copper mine during its 100-year operation. Now, the museum opens up a little-seen world, sharing what it was like to work and live in a remote, tight-knit community and inspiring visitors to consider their own personal connection with materials mined today.
Where to go
Minerals & Society In The Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre
Start your trip at the 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, where you can get to know the who’s who of mining in Canada.
Terra Lab
The Terra Lab introduces visitors to the science of mining exploration, development and remediation in the hopes of sharing learnings about a sustainable mining future. This building was the active mine’s assay lab— a place where scientists could test rock samples—and now serves as a place for learning and rotating programming.
Boom!
Immerse yourself in an award-winning attraction that brings mining history to life. This interactive experience shares the captivating story of the 100-year-old Mill No. 3 building. The live-action BOOM! experience features lights, sounds and special effects that revive tales from the past in a 20-storey architectural marvel.
Underground Tour
Travel into the belly of the mine to experience what life as a miner would have been like in 1914. The tour features a short ride through an old haulage tunnel on the museum’s mine train, where you can view working drills and a mucking machine.
Gold Panning Pavilion
The hope of striking gold is still alive. 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.
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.
Chatterbox Cafe
Fuel your Britannia adventure with a snack and a coffee or hot chocolate in this quaint cafe located at the museum entrance.
