Nanaimo, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

No. 1 Mine

B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

1. No. 1 Mine Marker

Photo is outdated, as the sign is now mounted on a retaining wall.

Inscription. Nanaimo was founded as a coal-mining settlement in 1852. Its most productive mine, No. 1, opened in 1881. From the bottom of the main shaft, one-half mile south of here, a labyrinth of workings extended for miles under the sea. These operations were served also by a shaft on Protection Island at the harbour's entrance. Until No. 1 closed in 1938, it was the oldest operating mine in the province.

Erected 1966 by Province of British Columbia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.

Location. 49° 9.95′ N, 123° 56.077′ W. Marker is in Nanaimo, British Columbia. It is at the intersection of Front Street and Museum Way, on the right when traveling south on Front Street. Marker is affixed to a retaining wall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nanaimo BC V9R 0C8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 23 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Harry Manson (approx. one kilometer away); Wellington (approx. 7.9 kilometers away); The 49th Parallel (approx. 20.4 kilometers away); Ladysmith (approx. 21.1 kilometers away).

Also see . . .
1. South end remembers victims of No. 1 Esplanade Mine

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. More than 125 years have passed since the disaster that claimed 150 lives, but the effects still echo through the city today. It remains Canada's second-deadliest mine accident. (Toby Gorman, Nanaimo News Bulletin, posted May 1, 2012) (Submitted on February 21, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Mining accidents. A searchable database of nearly 1,900 men killed or injured in Nanaimo-area coal mines between 1877 and 1952. (Nanaimo Archives) (Submitted on February 21, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Western Fuel Co. No. 1 Mine, Nanaimo Harbor image. Click for full size.

Canada Dept. of Mines & Technical Surveys via Library & Archives Canada PA-015498 (Public domain)

2. Western Fuel Co. No. 1 Mine, Nanaimo Harbor

Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 997 times since then and 140 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on February 21, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Updated closeup photo of marker • Wide shot of marker and surrounding area in context. • Can you help?