Sunday, February 10, 2019

A Mining Town


The town of Bisbee Arizona is mining town with a long history.  It is located in the far southeastern corner of the state very near the border with Mexico.


It sits on a hillside with streets that curve upward and homes that cling to the side of the Mule Mountains.  In fact, the city boasts a four story high school building built on the hillside and all four floors have a ground level entrance.


On the edge of town, you'll find the Lavender Pit mine which was named in honor of Harrison M Lavender who was Vice President and General Manager of mining operation for Phelps Dodge Corporation.  He made an unprofitable mine able to produce commercial copper ore.


The mining company needed a place for dignitaries and investors to stay when they visited the mine so they opened the Copper Queen Hotel in 1902.  Today, the hotel is the longest continuously operating hotel in Arizona.


The hotel has hosted many famous guests from John Wayne and Lee Marvin to Julia Roberts and Keifer Sutherland.  Even First Lady Nancy Reagan stayed there once as have many of Arizona's political officials.  The hotel is said to be haunted and has been featured on the television show Ghost Hunters.


Many of the buildings in the city are on the Historical Register, such as the Brewery building above.


And, the Bisbee Post Office which still operates as a post office today.


Phelps Dodge ended mining in 1975 and the town slowly started to lose population.  However, the town saw a tourism potential and started mine tours as well as a thriving arts community.  In 2007, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold bought Phelps Dodge Mining and in 2013 it began to once again mine in Bisbee extracting both copper and gold.


When I visited Bisbee, I enjoyed all the art galleries shops along Main Street.


And, I loved the way the city looked after a brief shower, just after sunset.

5 comments:

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Bisbee looks like it recovered well after the mining slump, interesting to see that it was the art/tourist appeal that's kept them going until the mining kicks in again ✨

Judy Ryer said...

One of those must see places in Arizona. Love the shots of the deserted street after the rain.

William Kendall said...

I've heard of the town at some point. The hotel is quite impressive.

Catalyst said...

I feel bad that we live so close to Jerome (another former mining town on the side of a mountain) and yet have visited it so infrequently over the years. I really love it though the different street levels have meant that I haven't been there in a long time.

Lois said...

A very pretty town. I just love that the old Post Office is still being used!