AZ Trip #7: Descending Into Bisbee's Queen Copper Mine

Going into the Mine on a narrow train

In today's blog, we'll take you down into an old copper mine in Bisbee, Arizona called the Queen Mine. We'll tell you how the mine re-opened and share pictures from far beneath the earth! 

Claustrophobic, Dan?

HOW THE TOUR WORKS - Everyone boards a small train. There's basically a long seat stretching from the front car to the back car, where people sit, one per person, and legs over the raised seat.

Looking up at another tunnel

Tour guides, retired Phelps Dodge employees, lead the group 1,500 feet into the mine and recount mining days, techniques, dangers and drama. Adding a personal touch, the miner-turned-tour guides help visitors experience what it was like to work underground.

NO GHOSTS, BUT LOTS OF DUST-  I didn't sense any ghosts in the mine, although I believe that there were some fatalities in it. However, if you opened your mouth, you could taste chalky dust.

Moving thru the narrow mine

Dan and Rob underground

Dan  suited up for mining

Going through the mine shaft

Rob suited up

 HOW THE MINE RE-OPENED AS AN ATTRACTION - The Phelps Dodge Corporation owned the mine and closed the Bisbee underground mines in the summer of 1975.  According to Queenmine.com, Bisbee Mayor Eads felt that history of mining should be kept alive in Bisbee and in a manner that would attract tourists to the community.

Rob on the mining train

RE-OPENING THE MINES  - Volunteers cleared thousands of tons of fallen rock and re-timbered the old workings. They were assisted by local individuals and groups who furnished support and food for the workers. The local effort came to the attention of a federal agency, the Economic Development Administration, which approved a large grant to the City of Bisbee to help the mine tour project and other improvements in downtown Bisbee designed to aid the tourist business.

drill in the rock wall

lead in the cave walls

 TOUR OPENED 1 YEAR LATER  The
Queen Mine Tour was officially opened to visitors on February 1, 1976. Since then, more than a million visitors, from all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries, have enjoyed the ride into the mountain on the underground mine tour train.

NEXT: Exploring the Lavender Pit  (after 3 NH Trip Blogs)