Bisbee, Arizona

Bisbee became internationally renowned during the mining rush in the 1800s, with the discovery of the Copper Queen Lode. Bisbee mines, nestled in the foothills of the Mule Mountains in southeast Arizona, have produced more than $2 billion in copper, gold, lead, silver, and zinc. By 1900, Bisbee was the largest cosmopolitan center between St. Louis and San Francisco. Besides operating several stock exchanges, the town was a major venue for rodeos, circuses, vaudeville, theater, and lectures.  

By the early 1970s, most of the mines had closed, and artists' studios replaced the miners' shacks. Bisbee is now home to numerous art galleries and studios and serves as an enclave for more than 100 resident artists and artisans as well as actors, dancers, writers, musicians, and photographers. Events and cultural activities are held throughout the year. You can contact the Bisbee visitor center for more information.

Artifacts and period furnishings of early Bisbee are displayed at the Muheim Heritage House Museum at 207 Youngblood Hill. The house was completed in 1915, by a prominent local businessman. Another museum that preserves Bisbee's past through artifacts, clothing and memorabilia is the Bisbee Restoration Museum at 37 Main Street. Historic Warren Ballpark, on Old Bisbee Road, is one of the oldest ballparks in the country.