Arizona’s past is steeped in the mining industry, and one little Cochise County town has preserved its roots better than anywhere else in the state. Home to just over 5,000 people, Bisbee is one of the most unique towns in America for a day trip, with a quaint downtown district, ghost tours, the opportunity to go underground into an old copper mine, and a historic charm that’ll make you never want to leave. It’s just one of the truly interesting and beautiful small towns that Arizona has to offer.
Recently named the best small town in Arizona by The Discoverer, Bisbee is an artist enclave with a quirky charm and incredibly rich history.
DenisTangneyJr / E+ Collection / Getty Images Tucked away in the Mule Mountains in the southeastern part of the state, this itty bitty city of just over 5,000 is among the best-preserved copper mining towns in the desert. Bisbee, AZ 85603, USA
Just strolling through the streets of downtown could be a day trip in itself, with old-fashioned shops and restaurants around every corner.
DenisTangneyJr / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection / Getty Images Try to dedicate at least a few hours to wander around with no particular destination - you never know what hidden gems you might come across!
If you’re a history buff, you’ll definitely want to check out the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum.
TripAdvisor/Robby G C Interactive exhibits take you back in time on a chronological walkthrough showcasing the role Bisbee played in the Industrial Revolution.
Get up close and personal with the industry that put Bisbee on the map at the Lavender Pit Mining Overlook.
M. Kaercher / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection / Getty Images In addition to simply admiring the unique geographical wonder, you can also read informational displays that detail the mining process from start to finish.
One simply doesn’t take a trip to Bisbee without touring the iconic Queen Mine which was established in 1915 and produced more copper than almost anywhere else in the world.
TripAdvisor/BLBTraveler Donning a hard hat, headlamp, and a yellow slicker, you’ll descend 1,500 feet underground and hear about all the triumphs and tragedies of working in the mines straight from the horse’s mouth - the tour guides are retired miners!
Perhaps the quirkiest thing you’ll see are the Bisbee Heritage Stairs, carved out of mountainsides all over town.
AllTrails/Kendra Johnson Built by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, the stairs provided a quick and easy route for miners to travel to and from work each day.
Not everyone knows this, but Bisbee is also notoriously haunted, and the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour introduces you to some of the town’s most infamous spirits.
Old Bisbee Ghost Tour/Facebook They take place seven days a week, and with two different tours to choose from, it’s the most popular tourist attraction in the city (and for ghoulishly good reason)
No day trip would be complete without delicious food, and Bisbee Breakfast Club is the obvious choice. (Don’t worry - despite the name, they’re open until mid-afternoon.)
TripAdvisor/MickLesLilas_France Not only does the restaurant have the best biscuits in town, but it’s also located in a historic district that has hardly changed since the 1950s.
Visit the official Bisbee tourism website or Facebook page to learn more.
DenisTangneyJr / E+ Collection / Getty Images
Tucked away in the Mule Mountains in the southeastern part of the state, this itty bitty city of just over 5,000 is among the best-preserved copper mining towns in the desert.
Bisbee, AZ 85603, USA
DenisTangneyJr / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection / Getty Images
Try to dedicate at least a few hours to wander around with no particular destination - you never know what hidden gems you might come across!
TripAdvisor/Robby G C
Interactive exhibits take you back in time on a chronological walkthrough showcasing the role Bisbee played in the Industrial Revolution.
M. Kaercher / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection / Getty Images
In addition to simply admiring the unique geographical wonder, you can also read informational displays that detail the mining process from start to finish.
TripAdvisor/BLBTraveler
Donning a hard hat, headlamp, and a yellow slicker, you’ll descend 1,500 feet underground and hear about all the triumphs and tragedies of working in the mines straight from the horse’s mouth - the tour guides are retired miners!
AllTrails/Kendra Johnson
Built by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, the stairs provided a quick and easy route for miners to travel to and from work each day.
Old Bisbee Ghost Tour/Facebook
They take place seven days a week, and with two different tours to choose from, it’s the most popular tourist attraction in the city (and for ghoulishly good reason)
TripAdvisor/MickLesLilas_France
Not only does the restaurant have the best biscuits in town, but it’s also located in a historic district that has hardly changed since the 1950s.
Have you ever visited Bisbee? If so, what’s your favorite thing about the town? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, then check out our previous article for more charming small towns in Arizona worthy of a visit.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Bisbee, AZ 85603, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Southern Arizona Is Full Of Amazing Adventures Awaiting You Right Now October 04, 2022 Will Suphan I’ve lived in Arizona most of my life and spent several years in Tucson in Southern Arizona, which I absolutely love. There’s a lot to experience here, so let me show you the way. What are some iconic Southern Arizona foods? Arizona is home to some of the best Mexican food you’ll ever try, and one of the best places is El Guero Canelo, which is the home of the Sonoran Hot Dog. It’s a hot dog wrapped in bacon and contains beans, chilis, onions, and much more. I’ve eaten here and it is worth the hype! For a cold treat, Eegee’s is near and dear to the hearts of all Tusconians. It has the regular fast food fare of burgers and fries, but what people really come here for are the eegees themselves, which are like a slushee or slurpee, but they’re so thick you’ll need a spoon. There are tons of flavors to choose from and you can even mix and match! What are some historic small towns in Southern Arizona? This area is replete with small towns that are full of character. You might not know that Bisbee (above) started out as a mining town and was in decline until hippies starting moving in decades ago and started building the town back up. It’s a weird and wonderful place with a ton of charm, an Alice in Wonderland festival, and is home to comedian Doug Stanhope. Of course, Tombstone is the main attraction as it was the site of many Old West historical moments like the shootout at the OK Corral. You can see actual bullet holes there and the town features re-enactments for tourists. What are the natural wonders of Southern Arizona? Arizona is well known for the Saguaro cactus, and the best place to see an absolute ton of them is at Saguaro National Park on the edge of Tucson. I can tell you from experience that driving through this place is a magical experience, especially around sunset. Saguaro are thankfully protected by law and seeing them thrive here is the quintessential Arizona experience. My other favorite spot is Mount Lemmon. During the summer, it’s a treat to take a drive up this mountain, passing cacti, rock formations known as hoodoos, and then to be among the peaceful pines. The drive back down provides a spectacular view of Tucson and the valley below.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Southern Arizona Is Full Of Amazing Adventures Awaiting You Right Now
October 04, 2022
Will Suphan
I’ve lived in Arizona most of my life and spent several years in Tucson in Southern Arizona, which I absolutely love. There’s a lot to experience here, so let me show you the way. What are some iconic Southern Arizona foods? Arizona is home to some of the best Mexican food you’ll ever try, and one of the best places is El Guero Canelo, which is the home of the Sonoran Hot Dog. It’s a hot dog wrapped in bacon and contains beans, chilis, onions, and much more. I’ve eaten here and it is worth the hype! For a cold treat, Eegee’s is near and dear to the hearts of all Tusconians. It has the regular fast food fare of burgers and fries, but what people really come here for are the eegees themselves, which are like a slushee or slurpee, but they’re so thick you’ll need a spoon. There are tons of flavors to choose from and you can even mix and match! What are some historic small towns in Southern Arizona? This area is replete with small towns that are full of character. You might not know that Bisbee (above) started out as a mining town and was in decline until hippies starting moving in decades ago and started building the town back up. It’s a weird and wonderful place with a ton of charm, an Alice in Wonderland festival, and is home to comedian Doug Stanhope. Of course, Tombstone is the main attraction as it was the site of many Old West historical moments like the shootout at the OK Corral. You can see actual bullet holes there and the town features re-enactments for tourists. What are the natural wonders of Southern Arizona? Arizona is well known for the Saguaro cactus, and the best place to see an absolute ton of them is at Saguaro National Park on the edge of Tucson. I can tell you from experience that driving through this place is a magical experience, especially around sunset. Saguaro are thankfully protected by law and seeing them thrive here is the quintessential Arizona experience. My other favorite spot is Mount Lemmon. During the summer, it’s a treat to take a drive up this mountain, passing cacti, rock formations known as hoodoos, and then to be among the peaceful pines. The drive back down provides a spectacular view of Tucson and the valley below.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
What are some iconic Southern Arizona foods?
Arizona is home to some of the best Mexican food you’ll ever try, and one of the best places is El Guero Canelo, which is the home of the Sonoran Hot Dog. It’s a hot dog wrapped in bacon and contains beans, chilis, onions, and much more. I’ve eaten here and it is worth the hype! For a cold treat, Eegee’s is near and dear to the hearts of all Tusconians. It has the regular fast food fare of burgers and fries, but what people really come here for are the eegees themselves, which are like a slushee or slurpee, but they’re so thick you’ll need a spoon. There are tons of flavors to choose from and you can even mix and match!
What are some historic small towns in Southern Arizona?
This area is replete with small towns that are full of character. You might not know that Bisbee (above) started out as a mining town and was in decline until hippies starting moving in decades ago and started building the town back up. It’s a weird and wonderful place with a ton of charm, an Alice in Wonderland festival, and is home to comedian Doug Stanhope. Of course, Tombstone is the main attraction as it was the site of many Old West historical moments like the shootout at the OK Corral. You can see actual bullet holes there and the town features re-enactments for tourists.
What are the natural wonders of Southern Arizona?
Arizona is well known for the Saguaro cactus, and the best place to see an absolute ton of them is at Saguaro National Park on the edge of Tucson. I can tell you from experience that driving through this place is a magical experience, especially around sunset. Saguaro are thankfully protected by law and seeing them thrive here is the quintessential Arizona experience. My other favorite spot is Mount Lemmon. During the summer, it’s a treat to take a drive up this mountain, passing cacti, rock formations known as hoodoos, and then to be among the peaceful pines. The drive back down provides a spectacular view of Tucson and the valley below.
