CFLSA

Bringing History to Life

In the not so distant past, underground coal mining was the economic mainstay in the Crowsnest Pass; now the mines are closed and that way of life is only a memory. The Crowsnest Pass Ecomuseum Trust Society is committed to making sure that those underground memories are not lost. "Our goal is to preserve the character of coal mining communities and their way of life through a combination of restoration, interpretation, and new development strategies to enhance the Bellevue Mine site and structures," explained Janna van Kessel, Executive Director.

School students enjoy a tour of the Bellevue Mine.

Those strategies include developing an ecomuseum with historical and interpretive programming, conducting tours of the Bellevue Underground Mine, encouraging school programs, and opening a gift shop. "This tour is a unique experience in North America, allowing tourists and school groups to travel inside a coal mine that was operational from 1903 to 1961. Visitors don a miner's helmet and lamp and walk into the original tunnel the same path taken by coal miners and their horses when they worked this mine. While listening to fascinating and informative stories about working underground, visitors accompany our interpreters along 300 metres or about 1,000 feet of the old West Canadian Collieries mine tunnel." Along the way they see a 'room', coal chute, coal seams and artifacts original to the Bellevue Mine.

With assistance from the Lethbridge Community Foundation, the Ecomuseum Trust Society has been able to add functioning replica safety lamps to their collection of artifacts. The lamps were acquired from Robert Price, a local gentleman with mining experience who collects safety lamps. In addition to providing these lamps for use in the new exhibit, he also joined the Society's volunteer program, sharing his knowledge with mine visitors. "The Lethbridge Community Foundation grant enabled us to put together a new display that shows the progression and evolution of safety lamps used in coal mining," said Janna.

The new safety lamp exhibit officially opens in June 2004. In addition to being displayed in the museum, the lamps will be used during summer interpretive programming. The Bellevue Mine Tours run every half hour from May 15 to Labour Day, from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Groups are invited to pre book tours throughout the year.

From LCF Report to the Community 2003.