The Museum at Campbell River’s 60th Anniversary coincides with the 60th Anniversary of the Ripple Rock explosion.
To celebrate both, the museum is hosting an evening at the Tidemark Theatre on April 5 from 7-9 p.m. to remember the blast that ‘shook the world.’
Ripple Rock, an underwater mountain within Seymour Narrows near Campbell River, was a marine hazard responsible for more than 20 large vessels and at least 100 smaller vessels sinking or being damaged. Before its destruction in 1958, Ripple Rock claimed at least 114 lives.
When Ripple Rock blew at 9:31:02 a.m. on April 5, 1958, the sight was stupendous. Seven hundred thousand tons (635,028 tonnes) of rock and water erupted in a blast that reached a height of 1,000 feet (305 m). The spectacle lasted less than 10 seconds before the debris was engulfed in a cloud of gas.
At the Tidemark on April 5 there will be a screening of the original CBC coverage of the event from 1958. Following that film will be a showing of the museum’s documentary Remembering Ripple Rock. This film was produced through a partnership between CRTV and the Museum at Campbell River in 2008 in order to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the explosion. It is a documentary that captures the reflections of those who remember the blast day of April 5, 1958. The film is an interesting mix of local recollection alongside national television coverage. There will be other features during the evening, including an appearance by the museum’s famous Ripple Rock puppet.
Tickets are $7 and are available at the Tidemark by calling 250-287-PINK or http://tidemarktheatre.com/event/ripple-rock-celebrating-60-years/
Also in celebration of the Ripple Rock explosion, there will be showings of the Ripple Rock puppet show at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 and Thursday April 5 at 2 p.m. in the Tidemark lobby. These puppet shows are free and will be followed by a fun craft.
