The B.C. government is funding the conservation of a historic coal mine in a provincial park near Nanaimo.

The province says Morden Colliery was built in 1913 and its remaining structures are a lasting legacy of the coal mining industry on Vancouver Island.

The province is spending $25,000 to assess and secure the mine shaft, remove unsecured timber and debris, and stabilize structures.

More than 32,000 people visited the park last year and the province says the restoration will ensure people can continue to learn about the local history.