Latest news with #BritanniaMineMuseum
Geek Girl Authority
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
On Location: Britannia Mine Museum on SyFy's RESIDENT ALIEN
Welcome to On Location , a weekly feature spotlighting landmarks and establishments seen on screen that viewers can visit IRL. Whether you're seeking a fun selfie, breathtaking vistas, or maybe a show-accurate treat, follow along for some bucket list destinations. RELATED: Dig into some divine dishes at London's Mediterraneo as seen on Apple TV's Ted Lasso After four seasons of adventure, hilarity, and hijinks, SyFy's Resident Alien concludes on August 8. In 'Tunnel Vision' and 'Mine Town,' its penultimate and antepenultimate (it's a word, seriously) episodes, respectively, significant action happens in and around Patience's Old Mining Days Festival. While the town of Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada (located three hours from Vancouver and requiring a ferry or plane), usually represents Patience, Colorado, on-screen, the Old Mining Days Festival used the Britannia Mine Museum, a 45-minute drive from Vancouver, as its setting. Photo by: USA Network Britannia Mine Museum on SyFy's Resident Alien Established in 1975, a year after the mine shut down operations, the BC Museum of Mining was a grassroots heritage site whose organizers felt the history of the mine and its community needed preserving. Renamed the Britannia Mine Museum in 2010, it runs as an independent, non-profit museum. Historically, the copper mine operated from 1904 to 1974. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, it supplied 17% of the world's copper, making it the largest copper mine in the world at the time. Over 60,000 people from all over the world lived near and worked in the Britannia Mine. The Howe Sound Company set up a company town at Britannia Beach, employing every resident, including cooks, teachers, nurses, and shop workers. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 Mount Sheer, another mine settlement built on the same-named mountain above Britannia Beach, had thousands of residents in the mine's heyday, but nothing remains of it today. Abandoned when the mine shut down, Mount Sheer's story is one of the Britannia Mine Museum's immersive and interactive exhibits. Image Credit: Britannia Mine Museum Resident Alien 's Old Mining Days Festival fit in perfectly at the Britannia Mine Museum, with its 17 original buildings, authentic to the era of copper mining and refining. Not seen in the show is Mine No. 3, known as 'The Concentrator.' Designated a National Historic Site, it crushed and separated ore mined across 150 miles of tunnels inside the mountain for over 50 years. Often referenced as a 'cathedral of engineering,' it is 20 storeys tall, built into the side of Mount Sheer. Tunnels. So Many Tunnels. The action shifts from the festival to the old mining tunnels between the episodes 'Mine Town' and 'Tunnel Vision,' and the real reason Britannia Mine Museum was tapped for the setting becomes apparent. Visitors to the museum get a guided tour of these tunnels as part of their entry fee. They are wide enough to accommodate the mine train and lit well enough for dozens of travel bloggers to film their experience in HD. Just check YouTube. RESIDENT ALIEN — 'Tunnel Vision' Season 4 Episode 9 — Pictured: (l-r) Alan Tudyk as Harry Vanderspeigle, Corey Reynolds as Sheriff Mike Thompson — (Photo by: James Dittiger/USA Network) Image Credit: Britannia Mine Museum An Out Of This World Visit The museum's site recommends budgeting 1.5 to 3 hours for your visit. Reservations are also recommended. The 75-minute guided tours run regularly throughout the day. Besides the tours, there are several self-guided exhibits to explore, a gold-panning experience, and BOOM! , the award-winning, multi-sensory, live-action experience. Using multiple screens, over 30 speakers, and leading-edge special effects, BOOM! brings to life the history of Mill No. 3 in all its mechanical and industrial glory. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Asta Twelvetrees Don't miss out on the adorable Chatterbox Cafe. Housed in an eye-catching red-and-white historic wood-frame building, it offers a selection of refreshments and light luncheon items. It also houses the Britannia Mine Museum's collection of movie and TV memorabilia and photos from the MANY productions filmed there. Next door, you'll find the Company Store gift shop. Personally, I can shop anywhere, but the Britannia Mine Museum's branded gear is such a must-have purchase. Also, how perfect a souvenir is a copper mug from an actual copper mine? Right? Like the admission fees, all proceeds go towards the museum's programming and upkeep. RELATED: Read our Resident Alien recaps The Britannia Mine Museum's opening hours are dependent on the season. Its summer hours (June 28 – September 1) are from 9 am to 6:30 pm daily. The last tour runs at 5 pm. The Resident Alien series finale airs on August 8 at 10 pm ET on Syfy and USA Network. Two Takes Trek: A Holodeck Whodunit Diana lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she invests her time and energy in teaching, writing, parenting, and indulging her love of all Trek and a myriad of other fandoms. She is a lifelong fan of smart sci-fi and fantasy media, an upstanding citizen of the United Federation of Planets, and a supporter of AFC Richmond 'til she dies. Her guilty pleasures include female-led procedurals, old-school sitcoms, and Bluey. She teaches, knits, and dreams big. You can also find her writing at The Televixen, Women at Warp, TV Fanatic, and TV Goodness.
Toronto Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
From of The Last of Us to the last mine cart: Britannia Mine Museum turns 50
Britannia Mine Museum is one of the best (and only) places in B.C. for an underground train ride, not to mention for a crash course in the province's copper mining industry. Britannia Mine Museum celebrates 50 years in the business of showcasing B.C.'s hard-rock mining industry, until Sept. 21. Photo by Britannia Mine Museum Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account When: Until Sept. 21 Where: Britannia Mine Museum Tickets and info: If you haven't been, then you've probably passed by while on the Sea to Sky. And if you have been, then you know that Britannia Mine Museum is one of the best (and only) places in B.C. for an underground train ride, not to mention for a crash course in the province's copper mining industry. We talked to senior curator Laura Minta Holland, about the half-century-old institution's staying power: Q: According to the numbers, this has been a record-breaking year for the museum. What accounts for that? A: In terms of attendance, we basically had our best March in the museum's history. I think that the museum has developed so much over the past 50 years, and there's always something different for people to see. They really enjoy their experience. And once they've been, they tell friends and family and others to visit if they've not been for a while. There's a variety of things that you can do on site while you're here, and that variety, I think, is what brings people back. And the team here is absolutely brilliant at what they do. They make every experience engaging. Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Britannia Mining & Smelting Co. in 1963. Photo by Vancouver Sun / PNG Q: The museum is also a star of TV and film. A: Yes. It started in the 1980s and now over 150 movies and TV shows have been shot here. You might have seen the museum in the movies G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes and Okja, or The Last of Us or The X-Files and other TV shows. That has kept the museum in people's minds. And location-shooting has become an important revenue stream, allowing us to continue the museum's legacy. We have also seen lots of investment from the province, the feds, different arts organizations, different funding bodies and donors over the years. The X-Files is one of many TV series and movies that have filmed in Britannia Mine Museum. Photo by Britannia Mine Museum Q: How is that history featured in the 50th anniversary exhibit? A: The curator, Heather Flynn, and I spent the last six to eight months going through the archives and pulling out photographs and documents. The museum has been through a lot of changes, and we're taking people on a journey that shows how the museum developed, what has changed over time, and how things have been impacted by those changes. Visitors will also get to contribute an idea or vote on an idea, because we've been here 50 years, and the museum wants to be here for 50 years more at least. So what would you and what does the community want to see happen here next? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Workers at the Britannia Mining & Smelting Co. in 1963. Photo by Brian Kent / PNG Q: What surprised you while going through the archives? A: The biggest surprise, really, is the tenacity of the people to keep the museum going through challenging times. There were times when it was maybe not seen as important as it is. The mill building that had been left for quite a number of years, and at one point was in quite a state of disrepair. All the windows were broken. Some people who were involved in the museum were like, 'Oh, it's just going to be easier for us to get rid of the mill.' But others were like, 'No, it is so important, and we need to preserve our history.' Britannia Mine Museum celebrates 50 years in the business of showcasing B.C.'s hard-rock mining industry, until Sept. 21. Photo by Britannia Mine Museum Q: What would the first visitors to the museum have found? A: It was just focused on the underground experience. The tunnel that you go in today is the same tunnel that guests went in 50 years ago. And the tour was quite similar. And initially, the remit for the museum was to encompass all mining across B.C., not just hard-rock mining. Then, in 1977, the first exhibit opened that was specifically about Britannia and the Britannia community. Read More Columnists Ontario Sunshine Girls Relationships Sunshine Girls
The Province
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Province
From of The Last of Us to the last mine cart: Britannia Mine Museum turns 50
Britannia Mine Museum is one of the best (and only) places in B.C. for an underground train ride, not to mention for a crash course in the province's copper mining industry. Britannia Mine Museum celebrates 50 years in the business of showcasing B.C.'s hard-rock mining industry, until Sept. 21. Photo by Britannia Mine Museum Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors When: Until Sept. 21 Where: Britannia Mine Museum Tickets and info: If you haven't been, then you've probably passed by while on the Sea to Sky. And if you have been, then you know that Britannia Mine Museum is one of the best (and only) places in B.C. for an underground train ride, not to mention for a crash course in the province's copper mining industry. We talked to senior curator Laura Minta Holland, about the half-century-old institution's staying power. Q: According to the numbers, this has been a record-breaking year for the museum. What accounts for that? A: In terms of attendance, we basically had our best March in the museum's history. I think that the museum has developed so much over the past 50 years, and there's always something different for people to see. They really enjoy their experience. And once they've been, they tell friends and family and others to visit if they've not been for a while. There's a variety of things that you can do on site while you're here, and that variety, I think, is what brings people back. And the team here is absolutely brilliant at what they do. They make every experience engaging. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A: Yes. It started in the 1980s and now over 150 movies and TV shows have been shot here. You might have seen the museum in the movies G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes and Okja, or The Last of Us or The X-Files and other TV shows. That has kept the museum in people's minds. And location-shooting has become an important revenue stream, allowing us to continue the museum's legacy. We have also seen lots of investment from the province, the feds, different arts organizations, different funding bodies and donors over the years. The X-Files is one of many TV series and movies that have filmed in Britannia Mine Museum. Photo by Britannia Mine Museum Q: How is that history featured in the 50th anniversary exhibit? A: The curator, Heather Flynn, and I spent the last six to eight months going through the archives and pulling out photographs and documents. The museum has been through a lot of changes, and we're taking people on a journey that shows how the museum developed, what has changed over time, and how things have been impacted by those changes. Visitors will also get to contribute an idea or vote on an idea, because we've been here 50 years, and the museum wants to be here for 50 years more at least. So what would you and what does the community want to see happen here next? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A: The biggest surprise, really, is the tenacity of the people to keep the museum going through challenging times. There were times when it was maybe not seen as important as it is. The mill building that had been left for quite a number of years, and at one point was in quite a state of disrepair. All the windows were broken. Some people who were involved in the museum were like, 'Oh, it's just going to be easier for us to get rid of the mill.' But others were like, 'No, it is so important, and we need to preserve our history.' Q: What would the first visitors to the museum have found? A: It was just focused on the underground experience. The tunnel that you go in today is the same tunnel that guests went in 50 years ago. And the tour was quite similar. And initially, the remit for the museum was to encompass all mining across B.C., not just hard-rock mining. Then, in 1977, the first exhibit opened that was specifically about Britannia and the Britannia community. Read More Vancouver Canucks Local News Vancouver Canucks Local News News
Calgary Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
From of The Last of Us to the last mine cart: Britannia Mine Museum turns 50
Article content Britannia Mine Museum 50th Anniversary: A Museum's Journey Article content Article content If you haven't been, then you've probably passed by while on the Sea to Sky. And if you have been, then you know that Britannia Mine Museum is one of the best (and only) places in B.C. for an underground train ride, not to mention for a crash course in the province's copper mining industry. We talked to senior curator Laura Minta Holland, about the half-century-old institution's staying power. Article content Article content Article content A: In terms of attendance, we basically had our best March in the museum's history. I think that the museum has developed so much over the past 50 years, and there's always something different for people to see. They really enjoy their experience. And once they've been, they tell friends and family and others to visit if they've not been for a while. There's a variety of things that you can do on site while you're here, and that variety, I think, is what brings people back. And the team here is absolutely brilliant at what they do. They make every experience engaging. Article content A: Yes. It started in the 1980s and now over 150 movies and TV shows have been shot here. You might have seen the museum in the movies G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes and Okja, or The Last of Us or The X-Files and other TV shows. That has kept the museum in people's minds. And location-shooting has become an important revenue stream, allowing us to continue the museum's legacy. We have also seen lots of investment from the province, the feds, different arts organizations, different funding bodies and donors over the years. Article content Article content Article content Article content A: The curator, Heather Flynn, and I spent the last six to eight months going through the archives and pulling out photographs and documents. The museum has been through a lot of changes, and we're taking people on a journey that shows how the museum developed, what has changed over time, and how things have been impacted by those changes. Visitors will also get to contribute an idea or vote on an idea, because we've been here 50 years, and the museum wants to be here for 50 years more at least. So what would you and what does the community want to see happen here next? Article content A: The biggest surprise, really, is the tenacity of the people to keep the museum going through challenging times. There were times when it was maybe not seen as important as it is. The mill building that had been left for quite a number of years, and at one point was in quite a state of disrepair. All the windows were broken. Some people who were involved in the museum were like, 'Oh, it's just going to be easier for us to get rid of the mill.' But others were like, 'No, it is so important, and we need to preserve our history.'
Vancouver Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
From of The Last of Us to the last mine cart: Britannia Mine Museum turns 50
When: Until Sept. 21 Where: Britannia Mine Museum Tickets and info: If you haven't been, then you've probably passed by while on the Sea to Sky. And if you have been, then you know that Britannia Mine Museum is one of the best (and only) places in B.C. for an underground train ride, not to mention for a crash course in the province's copper mining industry. We talked to senior curator Laura Minta Holland, about the half-century-old institution's staying power. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. A: In terms of attendance, we basically had our best March in the museum's history. I think that the museum has developed so much over the past 50 years, and there's always something different for people to see. They really enjoy their experience. And once they've been, they tell friends and family and others to visit if they've not been for a while. There's a variety of things that you can do on site while you're here, and that variety, I think, is what brings people back. And the team here is absolutely brilliant at what they do. They make every experience engaging. A: Yes. It started in the 1980s and now over 150 movies and TV shows have been shot here. You might have seen the museum in the movies G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes and Okja, or The Last of Us or The X-Files and other TV shows. That has kept the museum in people's minds. And location-shooting has become an important revenue stream, allowing us to continue the museum's legacy. We have also seen lots of investment from the province, the feds, different arts organizations, different funding bodies and donors over the years. A: The curator, Heather Flynn, and I spent the last six to eight months going through the archives and pulling out photographs and documents. The museum has been through a lot of changes, and we're taking people on a journey that shows how the museum developed, what has changed over time, and how things have been impacted by those changes. Visitors will also get to contribute an idea or vote on an idea, because we've been here 50 years, and the museum wants to be here for 50 years more at least. So what would you and what does the community want to see happen here next? A: The biggest surprise, really, is the tenacity of the people to keep the museum going through challenging times. There were times when it was maybe not seen as important as it is. The mill building that had been left for quite a number of years, and at one point was in quite a state of disrepair. All the windows were broken. Some people who were involved in the museum were like, 'Oh, it's just going to be easier for us to get rid of the mill.' But others were like, 'No, it is so important, and we need to preserve our history.' A: It was just focused on the underground experience. The tunnel that you go in today is the same tunnel that guests went in 50 years ago. And the tour was quite similar. And initially, the remit for the museum was to encompass all mining across B.C., not just hard-rock mining. Then, in 1977, the first exhibit opened that was specifically about Britannia and the Britannia community.
