Take a step back in time with a visit to historic Bisbee
Field Trip Fridays is sponsored by Sanderson Ford
BISBEE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — You may not know it, but one of Arizona’s cities seems like it’s frozen in time! Bisbee, a city of roughly 5,000 people and nestled in the Mule Mountains, sits quietly in southeast Arizona. But despite its small size, Bisbee boasts a rich history of copper mining and has turned into a thriving art community. Arizona’s Family is here to show you the old and the new Bisbee has to offer in this edition of Field Trip Friday!
Frozen in Time
History runs deep in Bisbee. Mining in the Mule Mountains was the bread and butter of the city once upon a time ago, bringing in miners from all over the state and country. At one point, the mining boom helped Bisbee become the largest city in Arizona territory! The city is no stranger to sports, either! It is home to one of the nation’s oldest ballfields and the state’s first golf course.
History of Copper Mining
Bisbee’s Queen Mine was one of the richest copper mines in history. The mine operated for nearly a century, opening in 1877 and eventually closed when Phelps Dodge discontinued mining operations in Bisbee in the mid-1970s. However, it didn’t stay closed for long. The mine reopened once again as a tour for visitors — almost 100 years after its original opening! Roughly 50,000 people visit the Queen Mine each year for an inside glimpse of Bisbee’s mining heritage and to get up close and personal with what it’s like working underground, where temperatures hover around 47 degrees year-round. Tours are available five times a day, seven days a week, and reservations are suggested. For more information about Queen Mine tours, click here.
What is that pit?
You might come across an open pit if you visit Bisbee and wonder, “what is that?!” It’s home to the Lavender Pit — a former open pit copper mine located near the famous Queen Mine. Phelps Dodge Corporation opened the Lavender Pit in 1950. Until 1974, a total of 86 million tons of ore were produced, including 600,000 tons of copper produced with gold and silver as byproducts. A popular mineral, Turquoise, was also a byproduct of the mining. Bisbee turquoise, also known as “Bisbee Blue,” is among the finest turquoise found in the world.
A City of Stairs
Bisbee is known for a lot of things, but did you know it’s also the “City of Stairs?” The city has its annual “1,000 Step Climb” every October, a stair climb that is one of the only outdoor climbs of its caliber in the nation. Fitness gurus and anyone up for a challenge flock to the city to conquer the event. The course is made up of nine different staircase climbs that connect the neighborhoods of Bisbee. Think you’re up for the challenging event? Registration is now open for October 2024. To register, click or tap here.
Care for a drink?
Come and enjoy a drink — at the smallest bar in Arizona! Room 4 Bar in Bisbee is a 1,000-square-foot bar inside the historic Silver King Hotel. The quirky tavern only has one bartender and four stools, so it might fill up fast! The bar opened in 2011, and hosts live music played in the lobby. Despite its small size, the bar can still rack up a good amount of cash from visitors grabbing a quick drink. The owner says the bar can ring up to $1,000 worth of drinks on a busy night and $600-$800 on average nights.
Ghosts, Ghouls and Spirits, Oh My!
From haunted inns to creepy cemeteries, Bisbee has a rich history of all things spooky and haunted! Among those is the Bisbee Seance Room, created by a man who goes by “Kenny Bang Bang.” He was first introduced to magic as a child by his grandfather. At 35 years old, he was laid off and began doing haunted-style shows at Hotel Congress in Tucson before settling down in Bisbee. The Bisbee Seance Room has been going strong for seven years and is now among the top attractions in southern Arizona — bringing all the thrills and chills to the city!
Shopping spree, anyone?
As soon as you enter the city of Bisbee, you can’t help but notice shops adorning Main Street. Shopkeepers are there to greet you and help you pick out new treasures or trinkets for your journey home. Good Morning Arizona’s Colton Shone and Simone Cuccurullo were so impressed with downtown Bisbee’s thriving shopping that they couldn’t help but grab some stuff for themselves! They stopped in at two hip and chic stores, Desert Diva and Classic Rock Couture.
Time Capsule in Arizona
Just a short distance away from downtown Bisbee, step back in time to explore the Lowell Historic District. Take a glimpse at vintage cars and old storefronts that line the photogenic Erie Street. While most of Lowell was lost to the Lavender Pit’s mining operations, Erie Street stood strong and has been preserved for years. Business owners and locals have made it a mission to create a spectacular outdoor gallery to highlight the town as it once was. Some main attractions include vintage cars lining the street, an old Greyhound bus, motorcycles, the old police station, antique signs and a movie theater! Erie Street is one of the most photographed streets in the Wild West. It has been used as a backdrop for many singers, including Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts!
Bisbee Housing Market
We’ve been telling you about the history of Bisbee, but what about looking toward the future? That all starts with ensuring people who love the city can live comfortably. Bisbee’s affordable housing program sells renovated homes 20% below market value.
So, how does the program work? An LLC buys the home and donates it to the city. The city then works with the nonprofit to fix up the house. Lastly, the home’s final price is calculated based on the market, cost of materials, labor, and insurance, but it still sells for a discount. The program has helped families since 2020 and is typically sold to educators, law enforcement and other city officials. So far, seven homes have been sold, and another will be completed in about a month. Another great perk — it’s offered at no additional cost to taxpayers!
Tastiest Burgers in Bisbee
Arizona’s Family is checking out one of the only food trucks in Bisbee — Bisbee Burger Truck! The truck serves up juicy burgers using fresh ground beef from a Douglas carniceria and freshly baked buns made right in Bisbee. It has taken home several “Best of Bisbee” awards, including second place for “Best Takeout” and “Best Lunch.” Sink your teeth into the Hatch Green Chili burger, which includes flame-roasted Hatch chiles, melted pepper jack cheese and a homemade green chile lime crema. Or maybe you’re feeling the Zacatecas burger, featuring fresh guacamole, Cotija cheese and the truck’s very own adobo chili aioli drizzle. We’ll take two, please!
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