The Atlas Coal Mine has received a boost to help refurbish the signs at the museum on the Tipple Trail.
On Monday night, August 29, the Rotary Club district governor Neil Berg was at the Last Chance Saloon where the local service club presented $13,000 to the Atlas for the project.
Interim executive director Jay Russell says the donation is appreciated as it is a much-needed project.
“We are refreshing our outside interpretive panels,“ he explains. “They are very crispy. The sun and the weather is pretty tough on them, and some have been around for 20 years,” said Russell. “Here is a chance for us to put new signs up and Rotary has given us a lead on some very skilled individuals who can make us some very good panels that can last us a long time. The quality will be of similar quality of the driving tour panels, in regards to how solid the are and how well the hold up to the weather.”
These are the signs that line the shale walkway around the site, featuring the buildings, tipple, and viewpoints.
“This is really timely and important for us, as the signs are really worn out,” said Russell.
The sign refreshment project also allows the museum to fix some of the possible typos, to update with new and relevant historic information. Currently, there are about 12 signs.
“Since the signs were initially installed there is new information we have learned,” said Russell, adding that they are also looking to add a couple new signs for features on the site.
“It is a great chance to revamp the Tipple Trail,” he said.
“I would like to add two signs to the trail as it exists right now, and at some point add a phase 2 to the machinery yard. We have written the text and have some amazing stories added to the machines. That would new future project.”
For Russell, he is excited to be working with the local group like the Drumheller Rotary Club and hopes they can continue to collaborate with local organizations complete the project.
