The Rise and Fall of Bisbee Arizona - IT'S HISTORY
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- Опубліковано 25 чер 2024
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Arizona, was a major copper-producing center built on the steep canyon slopes east of the Mule Mountains. Bisbee is 92 miles southeast of Tucson and 11 miles north of the Mexican border and is one of the world’s richest mineral sites resulting in what was once the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. Bisbee’s unique history attracts thousands of tourists worldwide every year. It also boasts of having the "Best Climate Year Round" by the locals. It is one of the few cities in Arizona where you can get a taste of all four seasons. The Copper Queen Mine, located in what is now called Old Bisbee, is a popular tourist stop when visiting the historic town.
Bisbee
Chaoters:
00:00 How Bisbee Arizona became a major copper producing center.
01:24 A word from policygenius.
03:11 How Jack Dunn, a civilian tracker, found mineralization indicating the presence of lead, copper, and possibly silver in the city of Bisbee
03:55 The initial settlement of Bisbee was named to honor of DeWitt Bisbee.
04:42 How Bisbee proved to be one of the richest mineral sites in the world, producing gold, copper, silver, lead, and zinc.
04:55 Why The Phelps Dodge Company entered the Bisbee mining scene in 1881 with the purchase of the Atlanta claim.
05:59 How The frontier town would transition into one of the great industrial cities.
06:11 Bisbee mine tour - The Copper Queen Mine and the Lavender Pit.
06:20 Harrison M lavender, Vice president and general manager of Phelps Dodge Corporation.
07:45 How The Copper Queen Mine was responsible for the growth of the surrounding town of Bisbee in the 1880s.
09:32 WW1 mining changes
09:44 How Bisbee blue became a by-product of copper mining.
10:18 The 1917 miner’s unions, strike
13:37 Why Bisbee stopped mining activity
14:26 How Actor John Wayne helped Bisbee’s transition from a mining economy.
15:10 The city of Bisbee's satellite communities of Warren, Lowell, and San Jose.
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Scriptwriter - Camrin Dekis,
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Host - Ryan Socash
» SOURCES
“Bisbee History.” Discoverbisbee, www.discoverbisbee.com/history.
“Bisbee History.” Bisbee History | Bisbee, AZ - Official Website, www.bisbeeaz.gov/2174/Bisbee-....
“Bisbee, Arizona.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 May 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisbee,....
“Bisbee Arizona.” Western Mining History, westernmininghistory.com/town....
Legends of America, www.legendsofamerica.com/az-b....
“Bisbee, AZ.” LocalWiki, localwiki.org/bisbee/Bisbee_H....
“Bisbee.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/place/Bisbee.
“Sacramento Pit Copper Mine at Bisbee, Arizona. The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/2017786565/#....
“Copper Queen Mine.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 May 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_....
Trierweiler, John. “Copper Queen Mine in Bisbee One of the Largest Underground Mines in the World.” KNXV, KNXV, 7 May 2018, www.abc15.com/news/region-cen....
“Queen Mine Tours.” Queen Mine Tours | Bisbee, AZ - Official Website, www.bisbeeaz.gov/2172/Queen-M....
“Lavender Pit.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Apr. 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L
» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.
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I was born here in Bisbee. My father was a turquoise jeweler. I'm still here, doing the same thing. Good documentary.
Doug Stanhope lives there right? How has he effected the town?
@@TheAndero Doug isn’t seen too often, but he does live here. He is part owner of a local bar/comedy club here in town called Chuckleheads. He doesn’t affect much, but he is well known in this small town.
Too expensive
If I ever get by there, I will stop and buy a piece of Turquoise. Do you carry Nevada Turquoise? I'm fond of it's greener color and lived in NV 17 years.
I'm also interested in a piece/slice of the gold in quartz, the natural polished, and a pyrite ring.
Best Thoughts ...
Beth
I would love to get my hands on a bracelet like my great aunt gave me she lives in Tucson I think my family lost touch with her I haven't seen the bracelets since I was 13 that's like 34 years ago I live in New York is the only issue
I filmed a documentary about Bisbee back in 2020. Went there and interviewed some of the people that live there and even got an exclusive tour of a mine. It is a cool place! Nice video!
Oh wow! Share the link with us all!:)
Is it the deportation documentary? If it is I’m the blue sports car going down tombstone canyon 🤣🤣
What's the Title?
I live in Bisbee and would like to compliment you on one of the best short docs on the town I've seen. I've traveled throughout this country and much of the world and lived in a number of places. Bisbee is one of the few (VERY) progressive, friendly small towns I've found. We do indeed have great weather here, in part because of the altitude, with short mild winters (the few snows melt off the next day) and consistently cooler weather in summer than Tucson or Phoenix. Thanks for your efforts.
Bisbee is truly one of Arizona's hidden gems...no pun intended!
Took a friend to visit family in Herford. We called them from Bisbee, told them we were in the area. He said I'll watch you come. He actually could watch the headlights from Bisbee to Herford.
How far/miles?
Been to Bisbee a few times. The parking is not easy, and walking requires going up and down the hills, but the architecture and history of the place surrounds you at every turn. Definitely worth it. And if you can't go in person, you can wander the streets in google earth. It's a good second choice.
There’s a local adage that says, “Tombstone is the town the time forgot and Bisbee is the town too high to care”. LOL. I live in nearby Sierra vista and we definitely enjoy going antiquing in old Bisbee + you have to go to the Bisbee breakfast club, it’s amazing!!!
I used to live in nearby Sierra Vista but worked in old bisbee in the old high school building (built 1913) behind the Copper Queen Hotel. Such a cool and unique town. Great climate. Also in next door Warren is the oldest continually used baseball stadium (since 1908) where greats such as Babe Ruth played. Nearby Naco, AZ has the ruins of army barracks used when the army was protecting the area from Poncho Villa in the early 1900's. A lot late of 1800's territorial bungalows in the area. With the kind of old west of Tombstone, Wilcox and even Douglas just down the road; plenty of ghost town remains around; and the Chiruacaua Mountains and Park just east of Bisbee, Cochise county is interesting than Tucson and Phoenix.
Wow, I saw a photo of that old highschool and thought it must have been a very unusual place to go. Tell me, was there a gym?
@@ITSHISTORY the old high school on Clawson Ave is a three story building and Clawson Ave. is so steep that it allows for entrances to the school off that road at the level of each of the three stories as the road runs the length of the school. There is a gym and an auditorium. The school was moved out of it to a newer building on the edge of town a long time ago so this gym still has the old narrow, keyhole-style free throw lanes. Owned by the county, the school has more recently housed the county's parole/probation office, housing authority and a county library. There are old creaky wooden floors throughout the building, and I know from experience it's a rather spooky place to work after hours when everything is closed up and dark. There's also the old grade school immediately behind Copper Queen Hotel and it, too, is a great old building. When I was there about 10 years ago it was being used as studio spaces for multiple artists. The roads in old bisbee are so narrow, steep and such a jumble they have to use special scaled down versions of fire and garbage trucks to navigate the roads. During one heavy monsoon downpour I saw Brewery Ave become a flash flood river with dumpsters floating down it to the culvert that runs under highway 80. Monsoon rains also create waterfalls in the mountainside above highway 80 north of town. Old Bisbee and Lowell are often used to film movies and TV shows because of their retro look. Lowell looks like an old 1940's/50's, slightly abandoned main street. Amazing, crazy, cool town.
as someone who grew up Sierra Vista and is still lives here I can tell you that the old high school is being renovated into an apartment complex after H.U.D. left the building
@@cheifcrazybuffalo8390 Great idea and location. Cool building to convert. Depending on the number of units, parking could be tight; but then, parking is pretty dear everywhere in that part of town.
Visited Bisbee on a whim on a road trip 5 years ago. Absolutely loved it! Reminded me of Jim Thorpe or some of the mining towns near me in PA. Highly recommend a visit.
I've been to both places! Family is from Lehighton and I live in Mesa, AZ
Excellent video!! I have passed through Bisbee wanting to visit this town many times! After seeing your video I want to live there! Western history is so rich all over Arizona.
I had an uncle and cousins who lived in Bisbee. Uncle Dave. His father had built a house there in 1921. At that time the mine was still underground and the mining was in the spectacular supergene enrichment zone.
Uncle Dave's house was two story but only upstairs was used. There were big columns supporting the upstairs and they had been faced off with beautiful ore specimens.
In the 70's the operation closed and my Aunt & uncle moved to Morenci.
Bisbee Pride is my favorite AZ event of the year!
😢
Bisbee is a very unique town. I visited about three years ago and was struck by the drive in. It’s in a deep valley with only one entrance and one exit. It’s no wonder it floods consistently. The streets are narrow and parking is difficult, but there are ample bars and restaurants for those wishing to partake. The locals are not very nice, and the town is difficult to navigate, but you can feel the history all around you. I’d like to go back and spend more time there.
Bo Mudflood
I’m an east coast transplant now living in Mesa. I go down to Bisbee occasionally. It’s one of my favorite places. I find the locals extremely welcoming and hospitable.
There are two entrances and two exists for Bisbee north and south through Tombstone Canyon.
@@asimnicholsmusic really? They must have received their marijuana supply those days because normally the are very rude. Born, raised and still live near Bisbee. Hate that town. But of course us locals know the real town and truth about it.
@@cliffterrell4876 we reap what we sow
I grew up in Douglas, a town about 20 miles East of Bisbee where Phelps-Dodge built a smelter for the output of Bisbee. I never heard of the deportations of citizens in Bisbee. Thank you for bringing light to this human rights violation.
My family owned a house in Portal AZ for many years, and I lived there from 2004-2005. The nature was beautiful but the house was constantly broken into by smugglers etc, anyways - I always had windows replaced in Douglas :)
Because it didn't happen like he states. They left to playas and animas for the new mines and smelter there. Columbus never saw the surge of people as is claimed.
Im up in Portal. there is a good documentary on the deportation called Bisbee17, worth a watch
@@cliffterrell4876 so they left for Playas in 1917, yet Playas wasn't even built until the early 70's. So explain that, Mr. I don't know what I'm talking about. Ffs.
@@guillermo3564 my grandfather was hauling the steel into Playas in the 50 and mid 60s when they built the first smelter then the "modernized" parts of the smelter. Playas came about because of the smelter. Before Phelps Dodge built the town, the worker lived in Animas and drove 15 miles to get to it. My mistake was saying Playas and not Animas which was being mined since 1909.
Living in Arizona for most of my life I find it kind of interesting to think what would have happened if the town never collapsed
I went to Bisbee about 20 years ago over Christmas to visit my aunt. Back then, the town had a very hippy vibe. I remember one antiques merchant transported some of his merchandise in an old white hearse. Some of the cars looked more like rolling canvases.
Still like that in a lot of ways
@@TheTimader no it’s just a bunch of wanna be retired rich fake hippie people not original like when I was there in the late 80s and early 90s
Sorry it just wanna be retired rich hippies or fake hippies I used to go there all the time back in the late 80s and early 90s my step father’s family lived a couple of steps down from castle rock.. so I know
Bisbee is definitely an anomaly for Arizona. It's a pretty surprising find because it's so unlike the rest of AZ towns and cities that are usually "young" in terms of most buildings not being older than the 1980s. First time I saw it I thought it was like an Italian village in the desert with the way buildings work their way up the mountain side. The narrow streets also help sell the European feel. Definitely an AZ secret though, up there with the communes turned artist towns.
What communes? Can you give me a few names I want to look more into them
@@carawells3658 ha yes love to hear about these communes in Arizona - Barry G would be turning in his grave
This was fantastic, I have no clue about this town but this video is captivating! Well done!
Thank you so much for watching!
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Dont need a policy We have Free Medical in Europe 🇪🇸 Spain
This is where I live! It's such a sweet little town now a days full of musical and creative people. Great video!
Good to know. I'm ready to return to the desert. ☀️
@12:05 Pere Marquette railroad wasn't around in the desert. PM ran in Michigan and Ontario. El Paso and Southwestern Railroad was the railroad that made it to Bisbee, and was later absorbed by the Southern Pacific Railroad. Not huge, but railroad history is my wheelhouse.
My history bone is tingling..... Please keep expanding on those individuals that are long forgotten, unbeknownst to them, gave their lives... This is amazing! As electrician, hearing that they grabbed 8b copper is AMAZING to me! Thanks so much for the education on times forgotten.
More to come!
I recently visited Bisbee with a friend and her gracious friends showed us around. Her friends had moved from Tucson (my dream retirement city) and I was interested in why they chose to move to Bisbee, mostly because they're so young- in their late 20s. They said they see a lot of potential still within the city and they want to open a bar/restaurant. We did a ghost tour, had a wonderful dinner, went to the smallest bar in America, then went to St. Elmo's where we witnessed 3 bar fights!! I love to see a thriving historic town that has a local culture but when they say wild west, they mean it in Bisbee! This was a surprisingly entertaining place to visit!
So close to the town I got my name from! Benson AZ is just up the road. Lots of little mining towns in this part of Arizona, with loads of character and odd surprises!
My mom lives in Benson, MN. Gotta love a small town named Benson, or a human names Benson. Best wishes!
tell me, what is it like to live in that area?
Having grown up in Bisbee, little is told of the significance of the Mexicans regarding the success of the copper mine. The Mexicans with their mules, carried the much needed water to the miners. (Hence Mule Mountains) The Descendents of early Portuguese conquistadors, they owned most of the land around Bisbee and some of them still do to this day. Some of these Descendents died in Viet Nam. It's a very rich history...even before the arrival of the industrious Serbs, whose European architecture can be seen in various buildings including the Copper Queen Hotel. Thank you for the mine history. 👍
I've been to bisbee my impressions are just the opposite very corrupt community. The reason why I went there was because my truck was stolen and it was recovered there and it took the sheriff's department threatening to arrest the chief of police to get them to verify they had the vehicle that the sheriff's department said they had and the sheriff's department forced them to release the vehicle unfortunately the chief of police refused to prosecute the Grand theft Auto persons instead they were charged only with stealing gas.
My personal experience being in this state is stay the hell away from bisbee.
I absolutely love your content!
Great Video.
Thank you for the Arizona History Lesson. Many of us Arizonans were born in a different state, and didn’t get to learn our local history in grade school.
G'day mate awesome channel love your information as I'm from AUSTRALIA and love your knowledge of what your channel gives me buddy awesome info thanks mate love your work Ryan
The fact that you used the LDS temple to show Tucson was kinda weird. But it is a beautiful building.
I was lucky to grow up in Bisbee in the 1960's early 70's, my wife was born there and my parents still live there.
We have pep
We have jive
We're the class of '65! 👍GO PUMAS!
I've gone a few times, only knew a little of this information. I love the serenity there, nice break from the big cities.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I like your channel man it’s fun and entertaining as well as informative.
I appreciate that!
Ayee shout out to az. Bisbee is beautiful but old thanks for getting az in on the fun! Thank you
Well done. My dad was born there(1919) and my mom grew up there. Your facts are straight but plenty more to tell.
Interesting video
my mothers home. Thank You
my mom went to rehab here she said it is the most nicest city in the state and we lived in AZ for most of our lives
I've driven through there with a Walmart Trailer when I was driving the truck to Douglas to the walmart store.
Great stuff man!! 🖖♥️☮️👌👍😀👉👉🔆✌️❗
Thanks 👍 (Nie Emoji work!)
Great video.
Excellent video, If you’re ever in eastern Pennsylvania you should visit the old coal mining town of Jim Thorpe (formerly Mauch chunk). It, Like Bisbee has reinvented itself as a popular tourist and artist destination.
Nicely done! Thank you. I lived in Bisbee in the early 2000's. First time I drove in I thought old Bisbee looked the set of the old movie "Popeye". With Robin Williams. I expected to see Olive Oyl walking down the street😂. I loved it there.
G'day mate why aren't you so much more popular you awesome with your knowledge brother I'm from Australia and love your channel mate God love ya mate 👍👍🇦🇺🇦🇺❤️
Unfortunately, a huge mistake, the railroad tracks from Benson to Bisbee were torn out, leaving the potential Bisbee railroad connection gone forever. BTW, the so called scars were gone a long time ago.
You ought to do a video on Jerome AZ
Any special key points we should cover ?
Agreed! Maynard James Keenan lives there
I love, love, love Bisbee. I live in Phoenix Metro and it's my favorite long weekend get away.
I couldn’t agree more!
I love that Art Deco Alamo
If ya visit for a couple of days, be sure to stay at The Shady Dell! Best accommodations going.
My husband handled hiring all the contractors to do remediation in Bisbee after Freeport took over. He practically lived at the Copper Queen. He knew so much about the city. He left me books and some copper..
I didnt know KultAmerica (Ryan) had another channel. I've been a subscriber for several years. What a coincidence! 🇺🇲🇵🇱
When I visited about 10 years ago, my clearest memory is standing on the main street outside a little brew pub smoking a cigarette, & an AMC hornet wagon full of people drove by blasting Hank Sr. They all smiled & waved.
This was a gem. Stanhope is what I search for
He’s always at Safeway
@@alexjohnson4759 liquor department.
We go to Bisbee easily 6 times a year. The drive is beautiful. They have wonderful air bnbs, the people are great and very good food there as well. If they had better internet, I'd move from Tucson.
I use to go there twice a month. Delivered to the now defunct Alco Store there. Was a fun drive.
We sure miss Alco and the building is still for rent, btw, and sure could use another co-op type store. . rediculous amount of unfair gentrification goes on with a new generation of rare-earth mining in the wings ...
I made jewelry in the 1960s and 70s with turquoise from the Bisbee copper mines.
Wouldn't call it a deportation. It was false arrest and felony kidnapping. Did the Company ever applogize I wonder?
I somehow don’t imagine people were into the big public apology thing in those times. Interesting question.
Doug Stanhope is the only reason I know of this place.
Great Comments !!!
My uncle began painting in his retirement and he wintered in Bieber as I recall; he and my aunt rented a space there that included his studio.
Oh WOW! so he was able to chase his dream after all?
I friggen love bisbee
I call it home now. Few towns compare for many reasons.
How workers are always treated.
Ain't that the truth
I wish you touched on Bisbee's history as a sundown town. It's hard to find information about and I'm curious to learn how it went from that to what it is today.
I see you do a lot of stuff about Railroads. Maybe do Its Railroad History?
Actually, Im almost sure there is a railroad along NM rt 80 - I've always wondered about the history of that.
@@ITSHISTORY So i was looking at google earth and unless Rt 80 was that Right of way, it doesnt appear that could happen due to the topography because, like water, railroads take the path of least resistance. I was however to locate an abandon right of way from the center of town followed it south until it comes to a wye 3 miles east of Naco AZ. I never followed this line but I will have to track this because it has a ton of cool features that you can see but wont ever see on modern railroad right of ways. I live in San Antonio and I just recently saw your video of Texas. It was awesome! If you need help with some features let me know because I a have a few friends that are extremely knowledgeable on this stuff.
I like how he talks about the “fierce Apache tribes” and has pictures of women and an oil painting as the backdrop
💛
That's on the way to Nogales I visited the hole on the ground many times .
There’s always a malapropism. I’m convinced they’re meant as Easter eggs. Today’s is “eloquent” instead of “elegant.”
As always, a wonderful, entertaining and unusual treat. Love these videos so much!
Thank you so much for watching!
Now it's the home of a 17 year old with a Honda and a drifting dream.
"Mystery is what draws in the tourists" ya, the Joann Brady mysteries by J.A. Jance is probably a huge part of it. I'm surprised the series wasn't mentioned since she's the fictional sheriff of Cochise county.
You should do Sandon British Columbia canada, and/or Trail British Columbia. Very rich history
I have a book titled "The 100 Best Small Towns in America" (1993) It ranks Bisbee "47" in that category.
I’d love to know about some of the other towns in that book!
This should of been called' The rise and fall and rise again of Bisbee' as it has been on the rise for the last decade.
Do they have a in an out there might try going there I’m from Nebraska.
The mine at Morenci, North of there is so huge it must be seen to be believed. Clifton is the unpolished version of Bisbee.
I'm starting to realize there is alot of Arizona to be discovered!
Very unpolished. I've been there.
I f burwery gulch and the mine tour is amazing and the have the smallest bar in all of Arizona...and don't even get me started on pride day there
Halloween is just crazy along brewery gulch. Quite famous for the Leather and Lace celebration.
highly recommend visiting Bisbee if you can
I lived in Bisbee (warren) for 5 years I absolutely loved it unfortunately not a lot of high paying jobs so I had to move to Phx.
How do people get by there?
@@ITSHISTORY working for the government is probably the biggest employer. The rest work in restaurants or hotels. All tourists based economy
Jerome, AZ was never graced with a visit from its namesake, Eugene Jerome (Churchill's grandfather), either. Interesting. I wonder how many old west towns were never even visited by their namesakes and investors?
Always good info but you need to pause between thoughts.
How about Jerome, AZ. Went from Boom Town to Ghost Town and now an art destination.
The thumbnail looks like a POV for a B&M inverted roller coaster
I'm from a town not too far away. Honestly the County Seat needs to be moved to Sierra Vista.
Why is that ?
Do video on Jerome Az
My son and daughter-in-law live in Bisbee and he is a disc jockey on the local radio station..his name is Stevie ray dj
Saying Bisbee is one of the only places in Arizona that sees 4 seasons is very inaccurate
Perfection Valley
Cavalrymen. They are called Troopers
The best thing about Bisbee Arizona nowadays is Douglas Stanhope
You forgot about the BATS at night all over the area
The home of legendary stand-up comedian Doug Stanhope!
You gotta do eureka springs Arkansas
Any special key points we should cover ?
@@ITSHISTORY the crescent hotel, the springs, the historic basin hotel
The crescent especially, you’ll find that it has enough history to have its own video
I've been to Bisbee and done a haunted tour
Quite enjoyable, informative and interesting. I'm a former Arizona resident and I will always love it, I'm therefore very interested in Arizona history. Thank you for sharing this great little video.
Are you talking about Bisbee or selling insurance?? 🤣🤣
Your old pics of Bisbee are awesome.
And Bisbee Blue Turquoise is a dark blue unlike the common Turquoise you normally see. It's very beautiful and is said to only be found in Bisbee making it a bit expensive due to it only being found in 1 location.
This video was made possible by our Sponsor, hence we were proud to talk about both Bisbee and insurance :)
I'll go with that. I just found it a bit funny. But your video was awesome. I have lived in Bisbee on and off for 38 yrs and have since made that completely permanent. I even learned a couple things they didn't teach in school on the traffic circle. Please don't take offense. I just found it funny at this hour.
Bisbee’s biggest export now is Doug Stanhope.
Fr tho
Got Mudflood?
at about 11:30, symbolic should be sympathetic
Don't Forget the Graboids! :) Yeah, I know :)
Good call!
Think that was Bixby Nevada.
@@bufordmaddogtannen5164 Ah yes, thats the town. Good series though.