Bisbee AZ

Cooled and I spent Saturday in Bisbee last weekend. Bisbee a mining town of copper, was founded in 1880 and named after one of the monetary backers, Judge Dewitt Bisbee. It was the largest town in the early 1900’s from St. Louis to San Francisco, with population of over 20,000 . In the mid 1970’s it became unprofitable, and the town was attractive to many artists and free sprits and has been home to many artist since. The town is still pretty much in tact and the old homes and buildings are still occupied making it a charming community.

When we drove into town I just knew this was going to be a fun place… even the walls had been painted. This is nestled between homes along the historic road into the town. It brought the song Happy to mind, ” clap along if you feel like a room without a roof, because I’m happy”. It just made me happy to see it…

Just around the corner from the “Happy Room” was the Peace Wall, the 70’s are being reunited in my soul… this town is calling me home. This is just the type of art I would sit in class and draw, memories flood my mind.

The town is nestled against the Mule Mountains, the historic district is on a long winding sloped street. The town was rebuilt in the early 1900’s after a fire and most of the buildings are still in tact, the buildings just speak of how the community was at its peak.

This is the Grand Hotel, still in operation!

The Salon in the Hotel is still serving and was just amazing how it hasn’t changed. You can just feel the spirit of the old west here, and the other kind of sprits still being poured.





In between the buildings were alley ways with vendors displaying their art work. This alley was occupied with an two artist, a jewelry maker and a women who hand painted scarfs, along with a purveyor of coffee.


Every corner turns up surprises, little back alleys with painted walls.


Bisbee was a thriving community and by the way these homes were built over the cannels I am going to say real estate must have been hard to come by. I am not sure I would sleep knowing that my home was on a bridge.. remember I am a California native and earthquakes are big part of my history.. this would not work well in earthquake country.
I recommend a visit to this charming town, one day really isn’t enough plan a weekend trip.