Frank Slide occurred on April 29, 1903. The visitor centre was opened in 1985.

At 4:10 a.m. on April 29, 1903, 90 million tons of limestone broke loose from the top of Turtle Mountain and came crashing down on the valley below. A portion of the sleeping coal mining town of Frank was destroyed by the rock avalanche and as many as 90 people lost their lives in the tragedy. Twenty-three people in homes along the edge of the slide survived, as did 500 people in the untouched part of Frank. In 1985, the Alberta government opened the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre on the crest of a hill overlooking the expanse of rocks of the Frank Slide. The interpretive centre tells visitors the story of the Frank Slide and introduces them to the history of the Crowsnest Pass region. Interactive exhibits and displays and interpretive programming will bring the past to life.

The Frank Slide Interpretive Centre has displays and exhibits that lead visitors on a journey back to the day the slide came down. Learn about the town of Frank and its people and what affect the slide had on their lives. Find out why Turtle Mountain fell with interactive displays. Interpretive staff are on hand to enhance the visitors' experience. The Centre's 70-seat theatre shows "On the Edge of Destruction", docu-drama recreating the events of the slide, and "In the Mountain's Shadow", a lively audio-visual remembering "the good old days" of coal mining in the Crowsnest Pass. The history of the Crowsnest Pass region is also featured at the Centre, giving visitors a sense of the rich history of the region and inviting them to explore more. A 1.5 kilometre trail leads visitors out into the rocks of the slide to experience the raw power of nature up close and personal. Admission is charged to view the exhibits and shows in the Centre. Adults $9.00; Seniors $8.00; Youth (7-17) $5.00; Family $22.00.

The Frank Slide Interpretive Centre's interactive exhibits are sure to be a hit with everyone. Kids will love the "seismic stomp" and Rumbler's Art Room. Be sure to catch the shows in the theatre. "On the Edge of Destruction" will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting for the mountain to fall. "In the Mountain's Shadow" is a nostalgic look at the Crowsnest Pass in the time when "coal was king". During the summer, the interpretive programming by Centre staff will keep you entertained and informed. The 1.5 km Frank Slide Trail walk (guided times in the summer) is definitely well worth the effort. Walk on the gravel trail among the giant boulders of the slide and stand in awe at the path of destruction. Although it came down over one hundred years ago, little has changed and it looks like it just came down yesterday.

Year Round (Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter Sunday)

All year: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Frank Slide Interpretive Centre is reached by taking a 1.5 km paved access road from Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway) at the community of Frank in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass. There is a large Frank Slide Interpretive Centre sign at the Highway 3 turnoff. There is ample parking for vehicles, including large RV's and tour buses.