New Interactive Mine Map!
Thanks to funding from Heritage BC’s Heritage Legacy Fund and community members, we have a brand new interactive mining map in the J.D. McDonald Hall!
Using the maps in our archival collection and working with the Selkirk Technology Access Centre, we’ve developed an interactive mining map display that highlights and showcases the mines on kmaʔrqn̓, or Red Mountain. Mining is a significant part of Rossland’s heritage, and the exhibit expands upon the existing mining content at the museum, bringing sometimes hard-to-imagine concepts into a tangible visual format for expanded learning and visualization.
Through the display, visitors will be able to see the major Red Mountain mines in relation to each other, the townsite of Rossland, and the areas where they ski today. Without mining, Rossland would look very different today. Mining had such an important role in the development of Rossland and was the main reason people settled in the area in the 1890s. Mining was the major industry during Rossland’s foundation, providing job opportunities and supporting industrial development in the neighbouring communities. The Trail smelter was created to process Rossland ore and is still functioning today.
Through the use of a 3D topographical version of Red Mountain and a projector, visitors will be able to interact with the mining history in ways they haven’t before. The large timber frame was inspired by and mimics the timber headframes that used to decorate the mountain. Visitors can press different buttons to bring up different maps and information about the mines that were so foundational for our area. The map display is the first step in replacing a previous exhibit that used glass slides to display the mine tunnels. It will eventually showcase the depth and breadth of the mines that produced over 97% (83.6 million grams of 86 million grams) of the gold from the Rossland mining camp.
We will continue to expand this display to further highlight and showcase the mining history of Red Mountain, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for new additions and developments over the next year.
This display wouldn’t have been possible without support and interest from the community, funding from Heritage BC, and the amazing crew at Selkirk Technology Access Centre!
