Founded a mile high in the Mule Mountains in 1880 lies Bisbee. Bisbee was named
after Judge DeWitt Bisbee who was a financial backer of the Copper Queen Mine.
The mine produced an estimated three million ounces of gold,
eight billion pounds of copper, lots of silver, lead, zinc, and
turquoise. Because of the minerals found there, and the
need for worker, Bisbee became the largest town between
St. Louis and San Francisco
by the early 1900’s. Due to
it’s popularity Bisbee became
notorious for its saloons and
ladies of the night, both of
which were located on the
infamous Brewery Gulch.
Bisbee continued to be a thriving
mining town until the mines were closed
in 1975. As the miners moved out,
the artists moved in making Bisbee
one of the Southwest’s most
interesting artists communities.