Welcome to Britannia Beach

Welcome to Britannia Beach! Located 45 minutes north of Vancouver, the community of Britannia Beach is named for the Britannia Range, which makes up the east flank of Howe Sound. In 1888 ore was discovered in the area, and in 1904 a copper mine opened, the largest in the British Empire. The Britannia Mine operated until 1974, and is now a National Historic Site named the Britannia Mine Museum.

The museum has a fascinating and entertaining tour that takes you on a ride on one of the authentic mining trains. It follows an early haulage tunnel into the mountain and you feel like you’re being transported back in time circa 1914. Knowledgeable tour guides show how the ore was extracted with authentic working drills and a mucking machine, and it’s easy to appreciate how difficult and risky the work was for the miners in the cool, damp and dim mine shafts. During the life of the mine, 50 million tons of ore was extracted, with peak production of 7000 tons of ore per day.

After your tour on the mining train, wander through the museum exhibits at your leisure. Be sure to stroll through Mill 3, which has an industrial, cathedral-like interior with a ceiling that arcs high up the mountainside. You’ll also want to check out the 1908 Machine Shop, which houses historical equipment and a restored ambulance car. It’s almost impossible to believe 16 miners once squeezed into the man car, a cart roughly the size of a family sedan. One exhibit you won’t want to miss is the gold panning pavilion, where you can try your luck panning for a bit of gold.

After you’ve explored the Britannia Beach Mine, meander through the quaint village for refreshments and scenic views.