Post Last Modified – April 28, 2021
The Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site
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If your travel plans have you visiting the Province of Alberta in Canada, then you simply must make a point of visiting the Atlas Coal Mine just outside of the city of Drumheller. This abandoned coal mine is now a National Historic Site and something the entire family will enjoy!
There’s a great deal more to see then just the world famous 🦕 Royal Tyrrell Dinosaur Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. Located in the southern portion of Alberta’s Famous Badlands.
Brief History Of The Atlas Coal Mine
The coal-mining industry was huge in this part of Alberta from 1911 and continuing for nearly 75 years, when at that time, coal was a major source of heating and other household uses. The Atlas Mine operated until 1984, when number 3 and 4 mines were finally closed.
Today, this historic mine is said to be the most comprehensive historic coal mine in Canada, and also has the country’s last full standing wooden coal tipple.
Tipple
It is a coal loading and sorting machine. The Atlas Coal Mine Tipple was built in 1937.
The Tipple stands at over 7 stories tall and lives on as a token of just how huge the mining industry was during this period in the Drumheller Valley. In fact, there were a total of 139 coal mines operating in the region during the hay day!
You can actually walk 125 feet up the tipple and view how coal was moved, sorted, stored and then finally shipped from the processing plant. Your guide will outline the dangers these young miners faced both on the surface and below ground, or as they commonly referred to as stepping into the “Belly of the Beast”.
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Artifacts
The site has a wonderful display of old mining equipment, many out buildings to view and something the kids will absolutely love, the pre-1936 battery powered locomotive train.
Hop on board and take a short ride on this coal train as your guide fills you in on the history of the mine and what the workers endured during that time.
Atlas Coal Mine Tunnel Tour
Unfortunately we missed the exciting tunnel tour, but it will lead you into a mine tunnel as you follow in the footsteps of these brave miners, taking you a step back in time.
As you put on your miners cap and lamp, your guide will take you up the inclined conveyor tunnel to the actual mine entry. Here, you can experience the reality of working in these dark dangerous coal mines.
Atlas Coal Mine – Minutes from Drumheller Alberta
The Mine is just over 20 minutes or 23 kilometers from Drumheller. A visit to this National Historic Site is definitely a must see attraction in the area.
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We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and for those traveling with pets, the site is Pet Friendly as well!
For more detailed information, I have listed their official website below for your convenience.
⚒ Atlas National Historic Site
Safe and Healthy Travels! 🙂
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Although our visit was in collaboration with The Atlas Coal Mine, rest assured all content and opinions are that of the author and reflect my personal experience only.
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