Fernie Arts and Culture Guide Fall 2022 Fall 2022 | Page 27

HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE

The story of coal mining in Sparwood spans over a century , from the first underground mines at nearby Michel in 1899 to some of the most productive open pit mines in the world . In the 1960s , the original town sites of Michel and Natal were relocated to Sparwood . Over the years , coal extraction methods have evolved from picks and ponies to the massive electric shovels and 240-ton haul trucks of modern surface mining . The objects along the walking tour bear witness to the evolution of Elk Valley coal mining from the early 1940s through to the 1980s .

Start this easy self-guided walking tour from the Sparwood Visitor Centre . Tour walking time approximately 60 minutes .

Find more information and insights by downloading the new Sparwood Walking Tour App from OnThisSpot .

HWY 43

Elkford

Pine Avenue

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1973 TEREX TITAN TRUCK BALMER NORTH STATUE MINING ARTIFACTS

MURAL : SEATED MINERS , 1989 , DAN SAWATSKY

MURAL : TRACK TEAM , 1995 MURAL : THE WAR MEMORIAL , 1997

13 14 MURAL : STEAM ENGINE , 1995

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COKE OVENS , 1989 , BY DAN SAWATSKY

SPARWOOD COMMUNITY ARCH AND TRAIN

SPARWOOD MUSEUM GOODMAN ARTIFACT