Arizona's Cowboys and Miners

Experience the thrills of the Old West in Tombstone, "The Town too Tough to Die." Make sure to also visit Bisbee, which was once the largest city between San Francisco and St. Louis.  This historic mining town produced nearly $8 billion dollars in gold, copper and silver in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

 

Tombstone, Arizona

When Ed Schieffelin staked his silver claim in 1877, he was told he would only find his tombstone in the Arizona desert.  In the years that followed, Tombstone became one of the roughest and most lawless cities on the frontier.  Tombstone is famous for its residents, such as Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, as well as the battle at the O.K. Corral.  Today, Tombstone is a living tribute to the original mining town.

Bisbee, Arizona

Bisbee was founded in 1880, and named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee, a financial backer of the CopperQueenMine. Once an Old West mining camp, at its prime Bisbee had transformed into a cosmopolitan city labeled an “Urban Outpost on theFrontier.” Today, Bisbee allows visitors to enjoy the splendor of the Old West combined with a modern day artist community.

Trip Itinerary

Spend the morning in Tombstone, “The Town too Tough to Die.”  Enjoy a walking tour of the famous historical district by John Rose, a research historian who has been featured on PBS and Arizona Highways, a gun fight, and personal time to enjoy the shops, museums, and historical sights.  From Tombstone, take a short drive to Bisbee, once the largest city between San Francisco and St. Louis.  

Today, Bisbee captures the feeling of the Old West while offering a modern touch.  Take a motor coach tour of Old Bisbee - the center of Bisbee’s historical district, the Warren District - home to many extravagant historical homes as well as the nations oldest continually operated baseball field, and the Lavender Pit - once the world’s largest open-faced mine.  Don a slicker, hat and miners lamp as you tour The Queen Mine.  From the late 1800’s to the mid 1970’s, The Queen Mine produced almost $8 billion dollars in gold, silver, copper and zinc.  Tour the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum, a Smithsonian Institute Affiliate that profiles this “Urban Outpost on the Frontier.”

Return to Sierra Vista for dinner in town or enjoy a special afternoon performance by Arizona’s Official State Balladeer, Dolan Ellis, at the Arizona Folklore Preserve in Ramsey Canyon. Spend the night in Sierra Vista.