Bisbee

Bisbee is a town in Southeast Arizona, and the county seat for Cochise County. This former mining town has reinvented itself as an artist community, and it now attracts tourists for its vibrant cultural scene and well-preserved architecture. Notable are its many Victorian-era houses built into the hillsides, some of which can only be accessed by foot.

Understand

Bisbee was established in 1880 as a mining town, and named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee who was a financial backer of the Copper Queen Mine. Mining operations ceased in 1974.

Get in

From Sierra Vista, head south on Highway 92, or west on Highway 90. From Tombstone, head south on Highway 80.

Get around

Old Bisbee is very pedestrian-friendly; the easiest option is to simply find a convenient place to park, and walk from there.

  • Bisbee Bus, ☏ +1 520-364-4474. Public bus transportation Monday through Saturday between Old Bisbee, Saginaw, Warren, San Jose and Naco, and points in between. The bus fare is $1 per ride. (updated Oct 2020)

See
  • 🌍 Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, No. 5 Copper Queen Plaza, ☏ +1 520-432-7071. 10AM-4PM daily. $7.50 (adults). 
  • 🌍 Cochise County Courthouse, 100 Quality Hill Rd (turn off of Tombstone Canyon Rd). This elegant Art Deco building was designed by Roy Place, and features beautiful copper doors. Several pieces of art created under the New Deal during the Great Depression are housed in the building, including plaster bas-reliefs along the entryway, and a relief map of Cochise County made of hardware and plaster on the second floor landing. 
  • 🌍 Copper Miner (Iron Man sculpture), intersection of Quality Hill Rd and Tombstone Canyon Rd. A New Deal Depression-era sculpture by R. Phillips Sanderson, cast in concrete and covered with a thin layer of copper and completed in 1935. Bisbee native Lee Petrovitch posed for the sculpture, which commemorates the copper miners of Bisbee. 
  • 🌍 Copper Queen Mine, 478 Dart Rd, toll-free: +1-866-432-2071. 9AM, 10:30AM, noon, 2PM, 3:30PM. Visitors can take a guided tour of the old mine, which ceased operation in 1975. $13 adults. 
  • 🌍 Lavender Pit, Hwy 80 (south of Old Bisbee). A former open pit copper mine, operational from 1950 to 1974. There is a viewing platform with parking places directly by the road. Free. 
  • 🌍 Muheim Heritage House Museum, 207 Youngblood Hill Ave, ☏ +1 520-366-2602. F-Tu 10AM-4PM (closed W Th). A fully-restored family home, built in 1898 and listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites. $4. 

Do

Outdoors
  • Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb Race. A challenging 4.5-mile race involving nine sets of stairs connected by winding mountain roads. Held every October. 
  • 🌍 4th of July Bisbee Coaster Race, Old Bisbee. 8:30AM. An annual event since 1914 and billed as the oldest and longest gravity race in the US. The race starts at the top of Tombstone Canyon Road and ends in front of the post office, 6 Main St. The best view is at the finish line, near the post office. Free. 
  • 🌍 Hike up Youngblood and Chihuahua Hills, Old Bisbee (trail begins at the end of OK Street (no parking)). This 1½-hr round trip hike goes to the top of 'B' mountain, which is topped with a collection of shrines and has great views over Old Bisbee and the Lavender Pit. 

Cultural activities
  • Bisbee Historic Home Tour, ☏ +1 520-432-3554, toll-free: +1-866-224-7233. Held annually in November. Tickets can be purchased in at the Bisbee Visitor Center, Finder’s Keeper’s, and at Atalanta Books & Music. $15 adults. 
  • Bisbee After 5 Art Walk. Second Saturday of every month, 5-8PM. A good way to meet local artists, with music and refreshments. Free. 
  • 🌍 Bisbee Blues Festival, City Park, ☏ +1 520-788-5659. A three-day festival held annually in mid-September featuring local and national blues artists. $40. 

Buy
  • Art and antiques, Main St. A number of art galleries and antique shops can be found on Main Street in the historic district, offering a wide range of pieces to suit many tastes. 
  • 🌍 Bisbee Books & Music, 2 Copper Queen Plaza, ☏ +1 520-353-4009, . M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. An independent bookshop specializing in books on the southwest and travel; also has Spanish language books and music. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Killer Bee Guy, 20 Main St (next to PanTerra), ☏ +1 520-432-8016. Sells a range of honey products, including honey butters, honey mustards, and bee pollen. 
  • 🌍 Meridian Books, 79 1/2 Main St, ☏ +1 520-543-7192. Has a good selection of used books and music, as well as locally-made artists' note cards. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Óptimo Custom Hatworks, 47 Main St, ☏ +1 520-432-4544, . Daily 10AM-5PM. The old-school milliner specializes in custom-fitting Panama hats and restoring straw and fur-felt hats. (updated May 2016)

Eat
  • 🌍 Bisbee Breakfast Club, 75A Erie St, ☏ +1 520-432-5885. Daily 7AM-3PM. Open for breakfast and lunch, and particularly noted for their pancakes and omelets. 
  • 🌍 Cafe Cornucopia, 14 Main St, ☏ +1 520-432-4820. F-Tu 11AM-4PM. Delicious food with homemade breads, soups and quiches. Very popular at lunch. 
  • 🌍 Cafe Roka, 35 Main St, ☏ +1 520-432-5153. W-Sa 5-9PM. Rated one of the best in town. Has a great ambiance, overlooking the main street. 
  • 🌍 Jimmy's Hot Dog Co., 938 Hwy 92, ☏ +1 520-432-5911. Chicago-style hotdogs, good baked potatoes. 
  • 🌍 High Desert Market & Café, 203 Tombstone Canyon Rd (across from the Iron Man sculpture), ☏ +1 520-432-6775. Daily 7AM-7PM. Popular for meals, coffee and fruits juices. Also sells gourmet groceries as well as locally-produced beers and wines. (updated Sep 2016)
  • 🌍 Mimosa Market, 215 Brewery Ave, ☏ +1 520-432-3256. Carries a wide range of imported cheeses and wines, as well home-baked breads. Also has a great deli with salads and sandwiches. 
  • 🌍 Santiago's Mexican Restaurant, 1 Howell Ave, ☏ +1 520-432-1910. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. Excellent Mexican food and excellent margaritas. (updated Feb 2017)

Groceries
  • 🌍 Safeway, 101 Naco Rd, ☏ +1 520-432-3038. Daily 6AM-midnight. For self-catering this branch has a full-service deli, as well as a pharmacy. 
  • Poco Grocery. 11AM-6PM. Vegan groceries (updated Feb 2020)

Drink

Sleep

Connect

Cope

Go next
Routes through Bisbee
Benson ← Tombstone ←  W  E  → Douglas → Ends at


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