Frank Slide Interpretive Centre
Starting November 19, the site will closed until spring 2008 to allow for exhibit redevelopment and renovations. Administrative offices will remain open and extension programs will be available for schools in the local area.
| Public Notice Was any of your family involved in Alberta's early coal mining industry, or do you know of historic families in the Crowsnest Pass? Or, do you know about artifacts associated with the town of Frank or local communities in the Pass? If so, the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre needs your help! |
On April 29, 1903, at 4:10 a.m., 82 million tonnes (30 million cubic
metres) of limestone crashed from the summit of Turtle Mountain and
buried a portion of the sleeping town of Frank.
The bustling town of Frank was home to approximately 600 people in 1903. Of these, roughly 100 individuals lived in the path of the slide. An estimated 70 people were killed.
The primary cause of the Frank Slide was the mountain's unstable structure. Underground coal mining, water action in summit cracks and severe weather conditions may have contributed to the disaster.
The buried section of railway was rebuilt three weeks after the slide.
A road was completed through the slide in 1906 and improved during
the 1920s. Before it was completed, people had to travel over a rough
road built beyond the rockslide debris.
Visitors to the Crowsnest Pass can explore ruins of the original coal mining industry, once the lifeblood of the valley, and discover the stories of the Frank Slide, the Hillcrest Mine Disaster (Canada’s worst mine disaster) and other historic events. Mining ruins, historic sites, a rugged mountain landscape and many winter and summer recreational opportunities make a visit to the Crowsnest Pass an unforgettable experience.
Click to view the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre virtual tour
Further Information
For more information on the centre, visit www.frankslide.com
