The town of Bisbee, Arizona's infrastructure is largely a result of the gold and copper mining that took place in and around the area.
One of the major mining operations was the Copper Queen Mine, where mining claims dated back to the 1870s, remained open until 1975. At the time of the mine's closure, Bisbee mines had totaled an estimated $6.1 billion in precious metal production. From 1877 to 1975, the Copper Queen Mine produced 8,032,352,000 pounds of copper and just under 3 million ounces of gold.
In the decades following its closure, workers and volunteers worked to restore portions of the underground shafts in order to begin allowing tours. These days, former mine employees lead groups into the mine while describing and demonstrating the processes with which they worked.
Mines begin on a small passenger railcar which travels 1500 feet into the horizontal shaft. From there, visitors leave the train and walk down several side shafts to mining features where the guides offer their stories and knowledge. Each visitor is outfitted with a vest, hard hat and light in order to assist in navigating through the mines. A variety of machinery and tools still line the inside of the Mule Mountains.
After riding back out of the mine, visitors are able to walk around the visitor center building, which has displays and installations on the mine's history. There is also a gift shop and usually a few tour guides around to answer questions.
Tours last for about an hour, and many sell out, so it's strongly recommended to book your tickets online to make sure you get a spot.
Visitors should be prepared to walk in a confined and cold space. The visitor center building is open to those who aren't taking a tour as well.
Complete information on tours and tickets can be found at QueenMineTour.com.
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