Fernie & Elk Valley Culture Guide Fall 2021 | Page 22

HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE

SPARWOOD MURAL AND MINE ARTIFACTS WALKING TOUR

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 1960 ’ s , the original town sites of Michel and Natal were relocated to Sparwood . The Sparwood walking tour reproduces scenes of the old town sites and their people , and the mining equipment that was used to mine the coal . 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 .
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1973 TEREX TITAN TRUCK This vehicle held the title of world ’ s largest , highest capacity haul truck for 25 yrs .
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MURAL : SEATED MINERS , 1989 , DAN SAWATSKY A simple yet evocative depiction of the miner ’ s lunch break .
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BALMER NORTH STATUE A memorial to the lives lost in the mines around Sparwood and Elkford .
MINING ARTIFACTS Follow the marked trail to examine a variety of mining artifacts including coal cutting equipment , the Joy Loader and Shuttle , and innovations in technology allowing mining production to be continuous and safer .
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MURAL : TRACK TEAM , 1995 Hometown boys pose after winning the East Kootenay Championship on May 24 , 1942 . By Michelle Loughery , Amy Sharma , Jessie Johnsen , Laura Patriquin & Alayna Berdusco .
MURAL : THE WAR MEMORIAL , 1997 A tribute to local men and women in the Army , Navy , and Air Force in World War I and World War II . By Michelle Loughery , Amy Sharma , Laura Patriquin , Liz Allardice , & Andrea Nunes .