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Britannia Mine Museum Summer Exhibit & Enter to Win

Comments 53 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Britannia Mine Museum summer exhibit explores the antimicrobial properties of copper and how it has been used in the battle against superbugs and other diseases throughout history.

Copper Chalcopyrite Ore - Britannia Mine Museum
Copper Chalcopyrite Ore at Britannia Mine Museum

Britannia Mine Museum Summer Exhibit – Copper: Bug Buster

“Copper: Bug Buster” launches Saturday, July 18th (until Sunday, September 13th) inside the Museum’s Machine Shop and delves into copper’s bug busting capabilities and the role it played in medicine as an antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal metal. For over three thousand years, civilizations around the world have used copper and its minerals in health remedies. The exhibit also asks the question whether copper can be used to help in the battle against COVID-19.

“Our Museum’s curator and her team assembled some fascinating facts and science about the antimicrobial properties of copper, and how the metal has played a role in medicine throughout history,” says Kirstin Clausen, Executive Director of the Britannia Mine Museum. “We felt it was fitting, since the Britannia Mine was a copper mine.”

Here are some interesting facts about copper that the exhibit will explore:

  • In ancient Egypt, green mineral malachite (copper carbonate) was ground up and used as an eye makeup, and supposedly also prevented eye infections.
  • Another treatment speaks of soldiers in battle having wounds sterilized with malachite.
  • The Incas disinfected wounds with gauze soaked in copper sulphate solution.
  • The Aztecs gargled with a copper solution to treat sore throats.
  • In ancient Greece, they recorded the first use of copper bracelets for arthritis.
  • In ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder’s works recorded around one hundred and fifty copper-based remedies, and skin conditions and tonsillitis were said to be treated.
  • In modern times, research has shown that when a virus or bacteria lands on copper, the metal releases electrically charged particles, which destroys the cell membrane, then the DNA and RNA inside.
  • Copper has also been proven to kill Ebola, MRSA, E. coli and norovirus. A recent study found that SARS-CoV-2 – the virus causing COVID-19 – lasted only four hours on a copper surface compared with 48 hours on stainless steel or 72 hours on plastic. Could copper be useful in the fight against COVID-19?
Britannia Mine Museum

The Britannia Mine Museum is currently open to the public with appropriate COVID-19 safety measures and procedures in place. This includes enhanced staff training, opening with limited attendance and tour sizes, advanced ticketing and reservation required, accommodating appropriate physical distancing, and implementing site sanitation protocols.

Operating hours are 9:00am to 5:30pm with limited guided tours and BOOM! showings in order to maintain proper physical distancing. Check the Museum’s website for specific tour times and to purchase tickets in advance.

Visitors can enjoy fun, educational exhibits, attractions and crowd favourites, like:

  • BOOM! Mill Show: A live-action, multi-sensory special effects experience that brings the historic 20-storey Mill building back to life, transporting visitors back in time to the 1920s when the Mine was booming as the largest copper producer in the British Commonwealth.
  • Historic Mill Building: A National Historic Site and one of the last remaining gravity-fed concentrator mills in North America, the 20-storey Mill building has been the symbol of Britannia throughout the years. Restored in 2007, each of the 14,416 panes of glass was hand-puttied into the frames to maintain its heritage and the building can be seen from miles away on the Sea-to-Sky highway.
  • Underground Mine & Train Ride: A memorable underground train that takes visitors deep inside a mining tunnel where they will experience what life was like for miners in the 70 years Britannia existed as a mine.
  • Beaty-Lundin Visitor Centre: The central exhibit hall that houses several mining displays, a mineral gallery, theatre space, and gift shop.
  • Machine Shop – The 1908 Machine Shop is home to a number of historic machines and equipment donated by mining companies from across the country.
  • The Britannia Story Building – A fully restored heritage building that features the stories of the Britannia Beach community ranging from love letters and antiques to historic photos and videos of former Copper Queens, showcasing what life was like in the old mining town. 
  • Gold Panning Area – A scenic boardwalk and cedar-post covered area where people can spend hours panning for gems and real gold.
Boom Britannia Mine
Boom!

Follow the Britannia Mine Museum on Facebook and Twitter for updates. The Museum is located right off the Sea to Sky Highway at 1 Forbes Way, Britannia Beach.

Enter to Win an Annual Family Pass

I have a family pass to give away! It includes admission for 2 adults and 3 children (value $160) that is good for unlimited visits for the year. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Like, comment on, or share this post on Facebook (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win an annual family pass for @BritanniaMine + check out the new Copper: Bug Buster exhibit http://ow.ly/d4fD30qWPSU” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. UPDATE The winner is Meredith!

Current Contests on Miss604
*All contests are open to residents of Canada only, unless otherwise stated. Contest timelines are published on each individual post along with entry methods. Some contests may only be open to those 19 years of age and older. Winners are announced on the contest blog posts. Contest policy »

53 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. AnnaTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 10:07am PDT

    We’ve been wanting to take the kids here!

  2. KateTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 10:12am PDT

    This would be so fun! I’ve never been before and would love to experience it with my daughter ?

  3. GloriaTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 10:24am PDT

    I’d love to take my family!

  4. BrettTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 10:28am PDT

    An important part of local BC history made interesting for people to learn about.

  5. RachelTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 10:32am PDT

    My son would love to go to this exhibit, he’s so intrigued my rocks, minerals and gold panning at the moment. In addition, none of the rest of the family have been.

  6. Jenna STuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 10:37am PDT

    We went here before having kids. Would
    Love to go back now with them 🙂

  7. CarolTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 10:59am PDT

    Would love to go and check out the new exhibits!

  8. Rosemarie TyTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 11:26am PDT

    I would love to bring my family. We haven’t been there before so it would be nice to experience it.

  9. Rosemarie TyTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 11:29am PDT

    I would love to bring my family. We haven’t been there before.

  10. Tara RegehrTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 12:21pm PDT

    I’d love to take my 2 littles!!!

  11. Karen ChewTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 1:02pm PDT

    Thank you for the opportunity of some summer fun!

  12. shelley butcherTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 1:50pm PDT

    I haven’t been for a number of years and would love the opportunity to take my grandkids.

  13. Jodi PerriTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 2:54pm PDT

    We just drove past the other day and our youngest asked when we could go, it’s been decades since I went back as a teenager. Thanks for the opportunity we would absolutely love to go as a Family.

  14. DaviesTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 3:34pm PDT

    We would love to visit the museum.

  15. TaniaTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 3:54pm PDT

    I’ve never been! The family would love this!

  16. RinoTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 3:55pm PDT

    Educational and fun!

  17. Caryn WTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 5:49pm PDT

    So excited to check out the museum with my kids this summer!!

  18. ShelleyTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 6:01pm PDT

    My three children love watching all the mining shows on tv. They would be so thrilled if they could tour the Britannia Mine Museum.

  19. meredithTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 8:59pm PDT

    This would be tons of fun!

  20. DianaTuesday, July 7th, 2020 — 10:48pm PDT

    Love to see Boom!! Need some excitement in our lives right now!

  21. Valerie CaldicottWednesday, July 8th, 2020 — 8:05am PDT

    Have not visited the mine exhibit for many years so time to return as new exhibit sounds very interesting

  22. MarthaWednesday, July 8th, 2020 — 1:33pm PDT

    Would luv to go

  23. DomWednesday, July 8th, 2020 — 2:22pm PDT

    Would love to win this. It’s a great spot and would love to take the family there.

  24. TylerWednesday, July 8th, 2020 — 2:32pm PDT

    I have never been to the Britannia Mine.. driven past it hundreds of times just never stopped. The kids I am sure would love it though (as would I)

  25. CamWednesday, July 8th, 2020 — 8:09pm PDT

    We are planning on going in a couple of weeks. Kids loved it when they went with their schools and have been asking to go again.

  26. Claudia AndrewsThursday, July 9th, 2020 — 12:49am PDT

    The kids LOVED it there!! They haven’t gone in a LONG TIME but are ALWAYS Wanting to go back!! Thanks a MILLION miss 604 for this TOTALLY AWESOME CONTEST and EXTREMELY GENEROUS PRIZE!! Winning a SEASONS Pass would be an ABSOLUTE DREAM come TRUE!!

  27. daneThursday, July 9th, 2020 — 1:21am PDT

    love to go

  28. Saba AzizThursday, July 9th, 2020 — 2:21am PDT

    I had been a very long time ago when I had no kids. Now Inhave three and they would love to experience this!!

  29. Jasmine BourretThursday, July 9th, 2020 — 7:46am PDT

    My boys would be thrilled to win the family pass! We haven’t been there for 3 years and they’ve been asking to go back!

  30. Amy LiuThursday, July 9th, 2020 — 1:15pm PDT

    thanks for the chance i would love to win this great prize

  31. Michelle WThursday, July 9th, 2020 — 2:30pm PDT

    I would love to bring my niece and nephew to check out The Britannia Mine Museum!

  32. Jason BThursday, July 9th, 2020 — 9:27pm PDT

    Would love to visit.

  33. KarenThursday, July 9th, 2020 — 9:27pm PDT

    Oh, I’d love to go with my family. What a great way to spend the day.

  34. GregThursday, July 9th, 2020 — 9:28pm PDT

    Thus would be a great place to spend the day. Thank you!

  35. wilsonFriday, July 10th, 2020 — 7:41am PDT

    a great place to visit with my family 🙂

  36. frank GLFriday, July 10th, 2020 — 7:48am PDT

    I loved this place when i was a kid, would love to see it again.
    Thank you

  37. Graziella GambronFriday, July 10th, 2020 — 11:23am PDT

    This would be amazing!

  38. CressidaFriday, July 10th, 2020 — 11:24am PDT

    Would love to win a family pass and take my kids to explore the mine 🙂

  39. AlexMFriday, July 10th, 2020 — 12:22pm PDT

    Fun place to check out

  40. Zuzana TycFriday, July 10th, 2020 — 4:46pm PDT

    Always wanted to visit but never had the time.

  41. ClaireFriday, July 10th, 2020 — 6:34pm PDT

    Never been but it would be a great family outing. Thanks!

  42. Angela ZonneveldFriday, July 10th, 2020 — 10:39pm PDT

    This should be a definite outing for the summer. Good luck to everyone! Thank you Britannia Mine for continuing to provide education and enjoyment for these many decades.

  43. Cheryl GSaturday, July 11th, 2020 — 8:20am PDT

    A great summer activity. I haven’t been in years!!

  44. MaryanneSaturday, July 11th, 2020 — 8:48am PDT

    We love this place!

  45. AlanMonday, July 13th, 2020 — 12:16am PDT

    Interactive learning and enjoyment

  46. KevinMonday, July 13th, 2020 — 1:07am PDT

    havent been here before!

  47. KevinMonday, July 13th, 2020 — 12:27pm PDT

    I loved going to the Britannia mine as a kid!

  48. GiGLZMonday, July 13th, 2020 — 3:25pm PDT

    Fun place! Used to go there when I was a kid. Now bringing my kids there for the fun

  49. NicoleTuesday, July 14th, 2020 — 10:13am PDT

    Would love to see the BOOM! show!

  50. Jennifer RTuesday, July 14th, 2020 — 10:40am PDT

    This would be great to bring my kids to!

  51. PatriciaThursday, July 16th, 2020 — 10:56am PDT

    Would love to take the kids! 🙂

  52. Joyce RaffinSunday, July 26th, 2020 — 10:13am PDT

    Have passed the museum many times and would love to visit!

  53. Sunshine GTuesday, July 28th, 2020 — 8:01am PDT

    We’ve only been once and would love to go again!

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