We spent a few days revisiting the old mining town of Bisbee, Arizona which we had last visited in early 2008. Barbara was doing some genealogical research on a family member who had died there and we also wanted to take the Copper Queen Mine underground tour again.
Bisbee and the Copper Queen tour facility as seen from the Queen Mine RV park
When mining ceased in 1975, the town of Bisbee started tours of the Copper Queen to help employ miners affected by the closure.
A few of the mining relics around the Copper Queen Mine tour buildings
Each person on the tour was equipped with a safety vest, a hard hat and a light.
Participants are carried through the mine on these cars.
Mining in the Copper Queen dates back to the 1880s, but the tunnel used for the tours was created in 1915.
Our tour guide explaining the blasting process.
The commode cart was needed to keep miners near their workplaces.
Safely out again!
Once most of the high grade ore was extracted using underground mining, open pit mining was begun to profitably mine much lower grade copper ore.
The huge pits left from years of open pit mining
Suspicious looking pond at bottom of pit
This gas station appears to have been closed for quite a while.
This old police cruiser was in nice condition.
