Queen Mine RV Park
Bisbee, AZ
October 5, 2024
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| Historic Bisbee from our sight at Queen Mine RV Park |
Our first visit to Bisbee was awesome...our week there flew by ! Bisbee is not only historic, photogenic and quirky, we found the locals to be friendly and pleasant. No one is in a rush...we like that! And, everyone is considerate...we like that too!
Our last day in Bisbee began on Erie Street. Back in the 1900s Lowell was a sizable mining town just southeast of Bisbee.
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| Arizona's first speciality tag...an homage to Fray Marcos de Niza. With 1539 on one side and 1939 on the other and his name where Grand Canyon State would appear...and stay...the next year. The tag marked the 400th anniversary of an expedition that made Fray Marcos de Niza the first European known to have reached the southwest. |
By the 1950s the majority of the original township of Lowell was consumed by the excavation of the Lavender Pit. Today, what remains is one street...a small slice of history and days gone by.
Mid-century buildings, signs, and artifacts, line Erie Street that makes visitors feel as if they have taken a step back in time. And to add to the fun, vintage cars are parked along the street. I love old cars and trucks !
Erie Street has the appearance of being untouched since Lowell's decline, but the lady selling homemade jams and preserves says locals and volunteers are proud of the history and restoration is ongoing. Not everything on Erie Street is a piece of history. We were also there to have brunch at Bisbee Breakfast Club or BBC as the locals call it.
Breakfast was yummy and our server was fun!
After brunch and walking, we headed south on Historic Highway 80 to Douglas, AZ. The marble stairs are a big draw, but the stained glass was the real reason I wanted to see the historic Gadsden Hotel. It opened in 1907 and soon became a meeting place for cattlemen, ranchers, and miners. In 1928, a fire ripped thru the hotel leaving nothing except the elevator car cabin, the marble staircase, and the marble columns.
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| Beautiful white Italian marble staircase. |
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| Stunning light |
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| Layered 24 k gold leafing and pink marble |
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| As beautiful as the marble columns and steps were, I am in love with the floor ! |
The hotel was quickly rebuilt using the same architecture but on a grander scale. My favorite...the stained glass window. A mural depicting the southwest desert runs a full 42 feet long and 6 feet tall.
And then there is the skylight..
Sunday morning sunrise...
and travel day.
A whopping 80 miles landed us in Willcox at the KOA for a week.
Stay tuned...until next time,
Wish we had the time to explore the area as you have been doing. It's a real eye opener in the history of Bisbee.
ReplyDeleteStay Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
Good morning Rick…Bisbee is a great little town. We are having a great time exploring the history and beauty of Arizona…one little vacation at a time.
DeleteWe love BBC!! And the Gadsden Hotel--I so wish the current owners could make a go of the restaurant--it's such an elegant space. Enjoy your time in Willcox--I look forward to seeing what you guys are up to!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Janna…I first saw the Gadsden in one of your blogs and wanted to see those stained glass windows in person. Next time we visit, we will go there for lunch. After reading about Douglas, I realized there is a lot of history there. .
DeleteWe too are always impressed with the grandeur of the magnificent old hotels. And a visit to the Gadsden sure does not disappoint. Such a far cry from the Holiday Inn!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your tour of Bisbee, looking forward to seeing Wilcox thru your lens.
Good morning Jeff…and you are welcome! Bisbee is awesome! There isn’t much to Willcox, but we weren’t ready to head home just yet so here we are.
DeleteWe always visit the Bisbee Breakfast Club when we're in Bisbee and enjoy walking around the area after eating but....I didn't really know Lowell's history - thanks! We've never been to the Gadsden, so now it's on my "list". You'd think the list would be getting shorter as we travel around, but - nope, it only grows!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Sue…you are welcome! I love eating breakfast out and was way happy to go to BBC…we don't get biscuits often, their biscuits and honey were yummy! You would love seeing the Gadsden Hotel…the stained glass mural is worth the trip! Life is good and let’s hope the “list” just keeps right on growing!
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