Home to the Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Arizona stands out as a quintessential Wild West frontier town, consistently topping travel lists for those who love exploring the American Southwest. Quickly approaching 145 years of history, Bisbee is famed not only for mining but also for its intriguing paranormal aspects, as any good Wild West town will be. Bisbee was once Arizona Territory’s largest city, attracting Wild West pioneers seeking work and a bustling frontier life, hoping to capitalize on everything that came with it – saloons, schools, brothels, shops, restaurants, and more. In its heyday, Bisbee was deemed one of the most cultured cities in the West, attracting a diverse array of settlers in pursuit of work and prosperity.
Situated 11 miles from the Mexican border in Cochise County, deep within southern Arizona, Bisbee was founded in 1880, thriving on copper, gold, and silver discoveries. Named after one of the Copper Queen Mine’s financial backers, Judge DeWitt Bisbee, the town was officially incorporated 22 years later in 1902, and served as the county seat until 1929 when it shifted to Tombstone (blog coming up!). Once a bustling mining hub with over 20,000 residents, the 2020 census reports a greatly reduced population of just under 5,000.
Despite Bisbee’s Wild West success and embrace of diversity, its history does carry some dark events. The notorious Bisbee Deportation in 1917 saw 1,300 miners forcibly expelled after attempting to unionize for better working conditions and wages. They were rounded up by private police a.k.a. henchman of the Phelps Dodge Corporation, along with corrupt Bisbee sheriffs, and forced to leave at gunpoint via train to Hermanas, New Mexico. The Bisbee Riot of 1919 involved clashes between Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry (a U.S. Army brigade primarily comprised of African Americans that was formed during the 19th century to serve on the American frontier) and local police, seriously wounding 8 and seeing as many as 50 soldiers arrested. Although no fatalities occurred in either event, it likely left a lasting “dark energy” in Bisbee’s streets.
The darkest and most notorious chapter in Bisbee’s history is the Bisbee Massacre, occurring on December 8th, 1883. Six members of the Cochise County Cowboys attempted an ill-fated store robbery, resulting in the deaths of five innocent people, including a pregnant woman and a lawman. In true Wild West justice, all six were swiftly convicted of robbery and murder and promptly hanged. The organizer of the robbery, John Heath, was separately tried and received a life sentence even though he did not participate in the actual robbery. However, a grim fate awaited Mr. Heath, as a lynch mob unhappy with his sentence stormed the jail, forcibly removed him, and hanged him from a telegraph pole in the streets of Bisbee. Actual photos of this chaotic event can be found in the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park (blog also coming up!) for those with a morbid curiosity.
Today, Bisbee is renowned for its art scene and eclectic culture. Whether you’re into birdwatching, art galleries, fine dining, wine tasting, or annual events like Blues in Bisbee and the Plein Air Festival, the town offers diverse attractions. Explore the unique, from axe throwing at Bisbee Hatchet House to the Bisbee Séance Room’s supernatural experience with a one-hour, theatrical séance. Climb Bisbee’s Heritage Stairs, considered to be “one of Bisbee’s most magnificent architectural achievements”, visit the Copper Miner sculpture, or take a jeep tour with Lavender Jeep Tours or Big Jeep Tours.
Take a paranormal adventure with a selection of tours like the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour, Haunted Pub Crawl, Bisbee Historic Ghost Walk, and more. Please note, the tours welcome all, but strongly state only “well-behaved children” are allowed (sans the pub crawl). There are several museums to discover, including the Bisbee Restoration Museum, the Muheim Heritage House Museum, and the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum. You can also explore the historic Warren Ballpark, the oldest continuously operated baseball diamond in the U.S., welcoming visitors since its opening in 1909. This is truly just a glimpse of what Bisbee has to offer.
Our personal main goal was to see the top Bisbee attraction, the Copper Queen Mine, which has its own dedicated blog – The Copper Queen Mine of Bisbee, Arizona.. Please check it out! Our visit also included the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum and a leisurely stroll throughout the city to appreciate the architecture and art. There are countless wall murals sprinkled throughout the city, some more creative and intriguing than others, but each unique. We also had a wonderful lunch at 1902 The Spirit Room, located within the historic, and haunted, Copper Queen Hotel – a highly recommended dining experience.
The Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum is interesting and takes a decent hour or so to fully explore. Open daily from 10am to 4pm, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, admission is $10 for adults, $9 for veterans, active military, and seniors 60+, and children under 10 are free. Group rates are available. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, the museum delves into Bisbee’s rich mining history, industrial role in America, minerals, mining tools, and more, plus featuring numerous well-preserved exhibits. My favorite part was the historic “Founders Room”, unchanged since 1895 when this building was the Phelps Dodge General Office Building.
A short drive from Bisbee lies Lowell, Arizona, once a vibrant and active residential hub that was home to miners from Serbia, Finland, and Montenegro who came to work in the nearby Lavender Pit Mine. Located just 5 minutes south of downtown Bisbee, it’s well worth a visit and an hour of your time. You can find my more detailed blog on Lowell here 🙂 – Lowell, Arizona: Step into a 1950’s Time Machine.
Overall, while not as famous as nearby Tombstone (thanks, in no small part, to the well-known 1993 film starring Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell), Bisbee offers a unique blend of Wild West history, art, and the supernatural. Personally, I found Tombstone more captivating, which we visited during the same weekend trip, due to its dedicated focus on its Wild West roots, unlike Bisbee, which leans more towards its new-age artistic side. I equate it to “Jerome on steroids” for those who have visited Jerome, Arizona: “Too Strong to Die”.. Nevertheless, exploring the Copper Queen Mine turned out to be the highlight of the entire trip for everyone, including my 6-year-old daughter. What we did was only a small drop in a very large bucket and Bisbee has much more to offer – so I recommend thorough research to tailor your visit and create your ideal Bisbee experience. Until next time, “Queen of the Copper Camps“!
