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Atlas Coal Mine
The Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site is an inactive coal mine located in East Coulee, near Drumheller, Alberta, which operated from 1936 to 1979. It is recognized as Canada’s most complete historic coal mine and is home to the country’s last standing wooden coal tipple, which is also the largest in North America. The site was designated an Alberta Provincial Historic Resource in 1989 and a National Historic Site of Canada in 2002.
Sub-bituminous coal from the Drumheller mining district was primarily used for home heating, cooking, electrical generation, and powering steam locomotives for the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways. The coal was easier to mine due to the flat-lying seams and lower methane levels compared to mountainous areas. Coal mining in the region lasted from 1911 until 1984, with the closure of the Atlas No. 3 and No. 4 mines. The preserved structures of the Atlas No. 3 Mine form the basis of the National Historic Site, which is managed by the Atlas Mine Historical Society.
The wooden coal tipple, built in 1937, stands over seven stories tall and served as a coal loading and sorting machine. It now symbolizes the mining heritage of the Drumheller Valley. The site also includes old mining equipment, such as a pre-1936 battery-powered locomotive, and several original buildings like the wash house, supply house, lamp house, and mine office. These artifacts preserve the stories of the miners who once worked in the valley. The Atlas is the last of 139 mines that once operated in the region.
During its operation, 13 workers died, with four perishing on June 24, 1941, in a gas explosion—three from the blast and a fourth while attempting a rescue.
The site is open to visitors from May to Thanksgiving weekend. Guided tours offer rides on the locomotive 'Linda,' walks up the tipple, and, since 2009, tours of the 210-foot underground conveyor tunnel and the recently restored Blacksmith Shop.
Type of Data Point - Basic Data Point - Source Wikipedia
Visit page of the element - Atlas Coal Mine
Inserted: 07-09-2024 21:09:06
Questions related to this Data Point
How did the Atlas Coal Mine's role in powering Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways influence the region’s economic development?
How does the Atlas Coal Mine’s record of worker fatalities reflect the broader risks of coal mining during its operational years?
How does the preservation of the Atlas Coal Mine contribute to understanding the history of coal mining in Canada?
In what ways did the flat-lying seams of the Drumheller mining district impact the operations and safety of the Atlas Coal Mine?
What challenges might have been faced in preserving the Atlas Coal Mine's structures, particularly the coal tipple and underground conveyor tunnel?
What impact has the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site had on tourism and local heritage preservation in the Drumheller Valley?
What significance does the wooden coal tipple at the Atlas Coal Mine hold for North American industrial history?
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Historic Places in Alberta
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