Instagram story viewer> @lostcanada.ca> Posts

Lost Canada

@lostcanada.ca

313

followers

751

following

Documenting Canada’s lost history, from abandoned mines to plane wrecks, or shipwrecks to fire towers 🇨🇦
The full growing archive on our website 📕

POSTS STORIES REELS

Inside an abandoned underground mine with a unique setup. An incline shaft that drops you straight down right from the portal. 🔦

While there isn’t a massive network of tunnels on this main level, the site still holds some incredible pieces of history. Deeper inside, the old hoist system remains intact, along with a wooden ladder leading down to a largely blocked off lower level. Surprisingly, despite being a sloped shaft where water usually collects, the workings down here are remarkably dry.

To explore photos, maps, and write-ups of underground mines and abandoned history across the country, head over to lostcanada.ca and give us a follow.

#lostcanada #abandonedmine #minehistory #abandonedontario #mine by @lostcanada.ca

This underwater Beech 18 operated during the mid-20th century, serving several regional Canadian carriers and construction firms. Late in its operational life, it flew scheduled routes out of northern hubs for a prominent regional airline just prior to the carrier’s rebranding into a major Arctic cargo operator. After being retired following a minor yet substantive incident, the stripped airframe was donated to a local diving association in 1980 and lowered into a nearby flooded quarry to serve as an underwater training feature.

The aircraft rests fully intact at the bottom of the clear-water quarry, sitting upright on the floor. It is an interesting wreck to see underwater, as it still retains its authentic commercial civilian paint scheme. Because it was stripped of hazards before sinking, the main cabin and cockpit structure remain open and accessible for divers.

To view photos and read more about abandoned aircraft, shipwrecks, and historic sites across Canada, visit lostcanada.ca or give us a follow.

#lostcanada #underwaterphotography #scubadiving #canadianhistory #wreckdiving by @lostcanada.ca

This site dates back to the mid 1950s boom in radioactive mineral exploration, which began with surface trenching to map out radiometric anomalies. Development eventually progressed to extensive diamond drilling and the driving of a major horizontal adit deep into the hillside. The property changed hands several times over the following decades for additional feasibility testing before it was permanently left to the elements.

The portal is framed by a weathered wooden structure that remains wide open for access. Inside, the workings are exceptionally well preserved, featuring a 30 foot vertical raise with its ladders still attached. Deeper in, the main drift connects to a massive incline shaft that rises over 100 feet back to the surface. Navigating the flooded drift to see such well preserved timbering and the scale of the incline shaft was a highlight.

To view photos and descriptions of historic mines, underground workings, and abandoned sites across Canada, visit lostcanada.ca or give us a follow.

#lostcanada #abandonedmines #undergroundexploration #canadianhistory #mininghistory by @lostcanada.ca

Originally opened during the early 20th century, this historic site saw intermittent development and small scale extraction across multiple underground levels. Surface prospecting and early trial shipments helped define the mineralized zone along the rugged terrain.

Recent remediation work at the property has focused on securing historical openings while preserving the underground ecosystem. A bat grate has been installed across the main adit entrance, allowing local bat populations to continue utilizing the subterranean habitat undisturbed.

To view photos and descriptions of historic mines, underground workings, and abandoned sites across Canada, visit lostcanada.ca or give us a follow.

#lostcanada #abandonedmines #mininghistory #canadianhistory #undergroundexploration by @lostcanada.ca

Exploration at this property began in the mid 1940s following the discovery of gold-bearing quartz veins, with additional underground development work carried out in the early 1960s. Crews drove a straight adit directly into the rock to evaluate the vein structure before operations ended.

Inside the adit, standing water covers the floor, creating a clear, smooth view over the smooth river rock bed beneath. Steel haulage rails remain intact, running down the length of the submerged drift through the solid rock passage.

To view photos and descriptions of historic mines, underground workings, and abandoned sites across Canada, visit lostcanada.ca or give us a follow.

#lostcanada #abandonedmines #mininghistory #canadianhistory #undergroundex by @lostcanada.ca

Deep underground where there’s no room for error. Abandoned mines aren’t meant for a group of friends to simply go out explore. When you have an open pit on the floor that leads down hundreds of feet, it’s not the time to mess around. If this is something you’re interested in, remember to take it extremely seriously and stay safe.

#lostcanada #abandonedontario #abandonedmine #ontarioexploration #mine by @lostcanada.ca

A beautiful waterfall over the portal of an abandoned mine. One of the prettiest entrances I’ve seen as of yet with a cool trench to portal set up. It almost looks as though it’s a natural cave at first glance from afar.

#lostcanada #canadianhistory #abandonedontario #abandonedmine #mine by @lostcanada.ca

Operated intermittently during the 1940s, this site was worked primarily for garnet used in sandblasting operations. The surface approach still shows clear traces of original infrastructure, including old logs roading laid across the trail to support transport equipment.

Near the working area, an approach trench leads to a restricted portal entrance. Inside, the short drift extends through shallow standing water, with original haulage rails and core drill holes still preserved near the working face.

To view photos and write-ups of historic mines, underground workings, and abandoned sites across Canada, visit lostcanada.ca or give us a follow.

#lostcanada #abandonedmines #mininghistory #quebechistory #undergroundexploration by @lostcanada.ca

Built in 1878, this 253ft long iron clad wooden steam freighter spent over four decades hauling bulk cargo across the Great Lakes and river routes. On May 22, 1922, while loaded with 30,000 bushels of wheat and waiting to pass through Lock 28 on the Galop Canal, an engine room fire broke out. To prevent the fire from spreading to the wooden lock gates, the vessel was cut loose and flushed out into the river, where it burned down to the waterline and sank.

Today, the wreck lies in shallow water just off the shore near Cardinal, Ontario, sitting upright in about 25 feet of water. The top portion of its large steeple engine protrudes above the water surface as a landmark. Inside the hull, major structural components including the boilers, large steering gear and massive four-bladed propeller remain remarkably intact along the riverbed.

To view photos and write-ups of historic shipwrecks, military relics, and abandoned sites across Canada, visit lostcanada.ca or give us a follow.

#lostcanada #shipwrecks #stlawrenceriver #canadianhistory #maritimehistory by @lostcanada.ca

Exploration and development at this uranium property picked up during the mid-1950s boom, driven by several underground drives and access adits driven into the hillside. Operations were brief, wrapping up before full-scale production was ever established as regional market demand shifted.

Today, the surface area retains concrete foundation pads, open rock cuts, and timbered portal entrances tucked away in the bush. Inside, the drifts remain largely intact with stable rock conditions, carved passages, and minor timber supports, offering a straightforward look at a mid-century uranium exploration drive.

To view photos and write-ups of historic mines, underground workings, and abandoned sites across Canada, visit lostcanada.ca or give us a follow.

#lostcanada #abandonedmines #mininghistory #canadianhistory #undergroundexploration by @lostcanada.ca

This site operated for years as a privately owned military museum, serving as a dedicated repository for Canadian aviation history and military memorabilia. Founded by a local collector, the property housed an extensive collection of artifacts ranging from uniform displays and land vehicles to preserved aircraft components and full-scale airframes.

The outdoor compound once displayed several notable pieces, including retired trainers, jet fighters, and a large-scale replica of the Avro Arrow. Following the museum’s eventual closure, operations ceased, and the property transitioned into private use. Today, much of the original static display collection has been dispersed or cleared, leaving only subtle remnants of the former roadside aviation landmark.

To view photos and write-ups of historic aircraft, military relics, and abandoned sites across Canada, visit lostcanada.ca or give us a follow.

#lostcanada #canadianaviation #aviationhistory #militaryhistory #ontariohistory by @lostcanada.ca

The area surrounding this town holds one of the highest concentrations of early 20th-century silver mining remains in the country. Decades of extensive exploration left the local landscape covered in surface infrastructure, much of which remains visible today tucked into the surrounding terrain.

Walking through the outskirts reveal massive concrete mill foundations, weathered timber headframes, and abandoned structural footings left behind after operations ceased. While the underground workings are sealed or flooded, these heavy surface structures offer a clear look at the scale of the original mining boom that shaped the region.

To view photos and write-ups of historic mines, underground workings, and abandoned sites across Canada, visit lostcanada.ca or give us a follow.

#lostcanada #abandonedmines #mininghistory #canadianhistory #ontariohistory by @lostcanada.ca