Copper Queen Mine and Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee, Arizona was a booming center of copper production for many years. The Copper Queen Mine operated from the 1870s until 1975, producing thousands of tons of copper as well as other metals and semi-precious stones. The first thing you see when you approach the town from the north is the huge Lavender Pit mine. The bright rusty-red of the rock makes it quite a spectacular sight, and though many might consider an open-pit mine to be an eyesore, there is actually a “Scenic View” sign and turn-off for photos. We took a two-day trip to Bisbee, touring the mine and celebrating Mashawn’s birthday. The mine tour requires a tasty ensemble of hardhat and reflective vest, and we had to ride a train that resembled something from a kiddie amusement park to get into the mine. The tour guide, himself a retired veteran of the mine, explained how the copper was taken from the rock, first with hammers and picks and later with blasting materials. ...
