Crowsnest pass blairmore 2020 all you need to know before. All the mines on the alberta side were closed by the end of the 20th century as cheaper and safer openpit mines opened on the british columbia side of the pass. May 28, 2019 guests who are major history buffs will definitely enjoy exploring the frank slide interpretative center, the crowsnest museum, the bellevue underground mine, and the flummerfelt park, as well as the nearby roxy theater. The site of canadas deadliest rock slide in the crowsnest pass of southwestern alberta is impossible to miss. Crowsnest and its people the definitive crowsnest pass history book, now on line. The oldest relics are stone tools found on a rock ridge outside frank, alberta, from the clovis culture, 11,000 years before present. Crowsnest pass archaeological project 1973 salvage excavations and survey. Enjoy engaging storytelling, interactive displays, gripping accounts, and awardwinning shows. Crowsnest pass beauty, mining history, and great tragedies. It has been well over 30 years since i was last through here. In 1903, the tip of turtle mountain broke loose and decimated part of the village of frank the frank slide.
Book your tickets online for the top things to do in crowsnest pass, alberta on tripadvisor. Nov 16, 2014 on highway 3, the crowsnest highway, heading west and entering into the municipality of crowsnest pass. Graphic novelist brings albertas tragic history to life in debut, frank. Dec 03, 2016 located just a few kilometres east of frank slide, the leitch collieries, another alberta provincial historic site, is another cool place to explore in the crowsnest pass. The frank slide was a massive rockslide that buried part of the mining town of frank. Historical photos from frank slide in the crowsnest pass may 16, 2019 tyler dixon history, the city in the early morning hours of april 29, 1903, 110 million tonnes of rock came crashing down the side of turtle mountain, burying a portion of the town of frank. The area is easily accessible via highway 3 from calgary and lethbridge, and also from nearby sparwood and fernie, the closest towns in british columbia, 41 and 70 kilometres respectively to the west. The landslide from the east face of turtle mountain that destroyed the southern end of the town of frank in the crowsnest pass area of southwestern alberta. But, it was a serenity that was to be shattered on april 29th, 1903 when at 4. Tucked just inside the southern alberta rocky mountains, the pass is a community consisting of the towns of blairmore, coleman, bellevue, hillcrest and frank. This is the site of the frank slide of 1903, the deadliest landslide in canadian history. There is an operating coal mine just across the bc border in sparwood, which continues to provide significant employment for the municipality of crowsnest pass.
Hwy 3, crowsnest pass and the frank slide, alberta youtube. Then walk the frank slide north rim trail to the frank slide interpretive centre. Crockets trading company is located in the easternmost town of bellevue. The frank cemetery id 2603311, which served the village of frank from 1901 until 1903, was buried beneath the frank slide so no victims of the frank slide are buried there. Sep 03, 2019 the frank slide interpretive centre, in southern albertas spectacular crowsnest pass, overlooks canadas deadliest rockslide. Frank slide, the superintendent of mines in the canadian department of the. Today, the hike up turtle mountain in the crowsnest pass will appeal to adventurers.
Frank slide turtle mountain the place not to be the morning of april 29, 1903 was the town of frank, alberta. Rich in stories, the crowsnest pass region in the southern rocky mountains still bears evidence of its tragedies, and one monumental triumpha railroad rammed through the pass in 18 months. There are numerous places to bike or hike in crowsnest pass with varying levels of difficulty. The frank slide disaster crowsnest pass, alberta, canada. Witnesses reported that within 100 seconds the rock reached up the opposing hills, obliterating the eastern ed ge of frank, the canadian pacific.
These were eroded by the crowsnest river, which was pushed against turtle. Hailed as the greatest project in the dominion, the crows nest pass railway was built by men who toiled. The 15 best things to do in crowsnest pass updated 2020. Crowsnest pass long, and sometimes dark history, yields many more. To shorten the route the cpr had favored the kicking horse pass over the easier yellowhead pass which is farther north. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every. See and hear firsthand what happened the night turtle mountain fell. Hiking the historic crowsnest pass alberta crown of the. Around 110 million tonnes 120 million short tons of limest one rock slid down turtle mountain. I have fond memories of the crowsnest pass, such a beautiful place, and this book brings the history alive. Interactive display galleries feature the 1903 rock avalanche and indepth history of the crowsnest pass.
Other sites include chert quarries on the livingstone ridge dating back to bc. Historical photos from frank slide in the crowsnest pass. The centre highlights the rich history of the crowsnest pass amid the breathtaking beauty of the canadian rockies. Frank slide interpretative trail in the crowsnest pass. May 31, 2018 we had a good long visit to the frank slide interpretive centre during our drive through the crowsnest pass two years ago, so didnt repeat that this time. Jan 07, 2012 from then on turtle mountain had been peacefula silent sentinel watching over crowsnest pass. Crowsnest pass herald by crowsnestpassherald issuu.
The site of one of the most notable events in the history of the pass, frank slide, left a deep scar on the landscape. Its also home to the historic frank slide and the bellevue mine tours. Mailing address box 600, crowsnest pass, ab t0k 0e0. Crowsnest pass also has a local ski hill, pass powderkeg, and an outdoor pool. Looking out to the frank slide interpretive trail one of the must do crowsnest pass hikes austere looking landscape left from the frank slide miners path hike, crowsnest path area. The sign seen in the next photo is at a pullout along the highway. The crowsnest pass region has a long history of coal mining and many historical. I would also like to communicate with you with regards to what you or other members of your family can tell me about joseph oakley. The frank slide in crowsnest pass, alberta find a grave.
The site receives over 100,000 tourist visits annually. I was told at the frank slide interpretative centre that joseph oakley is buried in michel bc. Frank slide, albertas deadliest rock slide, impresses. Crowsnest pass alive with history, outdoor adventure. Start the day with a tour of the bellevue underground mine and learn what it was like to be a coal miner at the turn of the century. Located just a few kilometres east of frank slide, the leitch collieries, another alberta provincial historic site, is another cool place to explore in the crowsnest pass. Frank slide interpretive centre frank slide interpretative. The crowsnest pass offers gorgeous hikes and scenery, worldfamous fly fishing, kayaking, snowmobiling and quading, mountain biking, canoeing, and skiing. Things to do in the crowsnest pass hammerson peters. The community is now part of the municipality of crowsnest pass in the province of alberta and has a population around 200.
If hiking the frank slide trail, be aware that weather in the crowsnest pass is very changeable. The crowsnest pass area on both sides of the provincial boundary is rich in coal deposits, which were quickly developed after completion of the rail line. Back to the great white north back to places to go, things to do things to do in the crowsnest pass the municipality of crowsnest pass, alberta, is an agglomerate of towns and villages specifically the hamlet of hillcrest, the village of bellevue, the village of frank, the town of blairmore and the town. In fact, its about as subtle as a slap in the face. Frank was a burgeoning mining town of 600 nestled in the crowsnest pass in the shadow of the massive turtle mountain which rises over 7,000 feet above town. The crowsnest pass is the richest archaeological zone in the canadian rockies. The mountains face stands barren following a large rockslide and a light cloud of dust is visible in the air.
A museum and tourist stop document the frank slide and the regions coal mining history. The frank slide interpretive centre, in southern albertas spectacular crowsnest pass, overlooks canadas deadliest rockslide. I will have to ask my complex patients to book more followup appointments because the billing codes. Over the past century, its history as a coalmining district has included boomtown architecture, interesting characters, exciting events, and. Around 110 million tonnes 120 million short tons of limestone rock slid down turtle mountain. Frank slide interpretive centre an absolute must see place to go. The historic crowsnest pass area is made up of five small towns hillcrest, bellevue, frank, blairmore and coleman. The frank slide, though, is still a dominant feature of the valley for many miles, 115 years after the tragic event. The crowsnest, pass of tragedy the frank slide by frank anderson hillcrest mine disaster by frank anderson fernie, city under a curse by elsie g. On april 29, 1903 a massive landslide fell from the side of turtle mountain into the valley below, known as the frank slide after the nearby village of frank.
Thirty million cubic metres of limestone broke free from the mountain and crashed down towards the sleeping populace of frank. Pdf geology of the frank slide and southwestern alberta. Frank slide was the deadliest rockslide in canadas history. The crowsnest pass trains magazine trains news wire. There is probably no one alive who knows more about the horrific frank slide than monica field. The frank slide disaster was a rock slide that buried part of the mining town of frank, alberta, canada on april 29, 1903. Oct 20, 2019 frank slide crowsnest pass frank slide is one of the largest landslides in canadian history, as well as the deadliest.
The frank slide, alberta a small town shown at the base of a mountain. Crowsnest pass, canada unique places around the world. Its a good way to learn more about the history and geology of the area. Feb 01, 2011 rich in stories, the crowsnest pass region in the southern rocky mountains still bears evidence of its tragedies, and one monumental triumpha railroad rammed through the pass in 18 months. Frank slide crowsnest pass wellness blogger bellamima. Ben rankel will hold a book launch on thursday, july 5 at shelf life books at 7 p. Turnbull and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. May 22, 2017 frank slide crowsnest pass alberta canada. On a chilly spring night in 1903, the town of frank felt the ground tremble as the side of turtle mountain came crashing down on the sleeping town. The book is a must for anybody interested in landslides. In crowsnest pass, alberta, you can see history from the frank slide to a building where residents once watched a shooting that followed a train robbery. Was the crowsnest pass considered when the cpr was being built in the 1880s. In may that year the first buildings were erected in the new community of frank, located on flat land between the canadian pacific railway tracks and the mine. Triumph and tragedy in the crowsnest pass by diana wilson.
Though frank recovered from the slide and achieved a peak population of 1,000 shortly thereafter, the closure of the mine resulted in a longstanding decline in population. In 1900, american entrepreneurs sam gebo and henry frank developed the first of many coal mines in the crowsnest pass, in the base of turtle mountain. Frank slide the mountain that walks mysteries of canada. Crowsnest, first edition abebooks shop for books, art. The drive is stunning if you happen to see it in good weather there are so many things to see along the way and too many photo ops to count. From the frank slide, to a more a heritage building where residents once watched a shooting that followed a train robbery.
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