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Frank Slide Interpretive Centre
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Cynthia Blackmore
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Cynthia Blackmore
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Cynthia Blackmore
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Cynthia Blackmore
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Cynthia Blackmore
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Cynthia Blackmore
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Cynthia Blackmore
by Monica Field
In the dark hours before dawn on April 29, 1903, 82 million tonnes of rock thundered from Turtle Mountain and buried part of the coal mining town of Frank. In less than 100 seconds, three square kilometres of the valley disappeared under a layer of debris up to 46 metres deep. Out of 600 people living in the town of Frank, 100 were in the path of the slide and most died. Survivors struggled to describe their experience.
“It sounded just like a big wind storm and we still don’t know exactly how we ever got out alive. It all happened so quickly.” Alfreda Saunders
“It took quite a bit of time for us to get it through our heads that everything and everybody beyond that point where the wall of rock began was dead…” Robert Chestnut
European settlers built their town in the shadow of Turtle Mountain where Blackfoot and K’tunaxa people travelling the valley refused to camp. The native name for Turtle Mountain translates as “The Mountain That Moves.” These people were hunting, following the animals in their seasonal migrations, and they may have seen rock falls from the mountain’s eastern face in spring and autumn.
Turtle Mountain’s geological structure was naturally unstable, and annual cycles of water freezing in summit cracks, coal mining at the mountain’s base, and unusually wet weather three of the four years before the slide were contributing factors to the eventual rock avalanche. In 1903, a large snow pack built up on the mountain’s summit in March, and then warm weather the last week of April melted the snow and filled the mountain’s fracture network with water. When the temperature dipped to -17 degrees Celsius during the early morning of April 29th, the water froze, expanded and likely triggered the rock avalanche.
“There will always be a possibility of a second destructive slide....”
Over a hundred years ago, right after the Frank Slide occurred, geologists McConnell and Brock reported that another slide was inevitable. But, they did not know when it would happen. Turtle Mountain is still fundamentally unstable. Freezing and thawing of water slowly weakens the cracks on the summit. Erosion or an earthquake could also help bring another part of the mountain down. It could happen in a thousand years – or tomorrow.
In order to better understand how and why this mountain moves, the Alberta Government has installed a state-of-the-art monitoring system, the scale and application of which is unique in North America. Movements as small as a fraction of a millimetre – less than the thickness of a penny – can be measured over most of the peak to understand how it is moving.
Visitors can explore the story of the Frank Slide – past, present and future – in a personal, interactive and creative setting, involving first-hand accounts by the people who lived through the destruction. Exhibits feature numerous audio-visual experiences, interactive computers, hands-on science-based displays, and an activity area for young children. Two award-winning high definition presentations “On the Edge of Destruction – the Frank Slide Story” and “In the Mountain’s Shadow” play daily. Interpretive programs, education programs and special events bring life and vitality to the exhibit galleries and the outdoor pathways. Walking trails around the Centre and through the slide provide spectacular mountain views and a closer look at the awesome power of nature. Travel Alberta Visitor Information services are available to assist travellers. The gift shop features souvenirs, books, clothing and other items that fit in with Crowsnest Pass, Frank Slide, coal mining, and wildlife themes.
The facility serves as an orientation centre to the historic Crowsnest Pass corridor and its dramatic stories. The three deadliest disasters in Alberta history occurred here: The 1903 Frank Slide (90+ dead); the 1910 Bellevue Mine Explosion (31 dead); and the 1914 Hillcrest Mine Disaster (189 men dead – Canada’s worst mining accident). This coal mining valley has been inundated by floods, burned by fire and haunted by accidents in the mines. Today, historic sites, mining ruins, rugged mountain landscapes and outstanding recreational opportunities make a visit to the Crowsnest Pass an unforgettable experience.
The Frank Slide Interpretive Centre is open daily except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday.
Summer Hours: 9 am to 6 pm from May 15 through Labour Day in September
Winter Hours: 10 am to 5 pm the remainder of the year
Call 310-0000 in Alberta to be connected toll free to 403-562-7388
Fax to 403-562-8635
Visit www.frankslide.com or email to frankslideinfo@gov.ab.ca