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Bisbee Mining &
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Coming into Bisbee takes you back to the turn of the century. Bisbee gained prominence as a mining center in the late 19th century; and today's Bisbee preserves this atmosphere, offering a variety of lifestyles set in the matrix of the West's once extensive copper kingdom.
As you walk amidst the solid, stately brick buildings downtown, you can feel the wealth generated by the city's copper mines that were founded to answer the call of the Age of Electricity. As you drive the narrow, twisting streets or walk seemingly endless flights of stairs, you will marvel at the early residents' ingenuity in adapting their lives to the steeply sloping canyons. Once you've walked the sidewalks and stairways, entered the stately buildings that line the historic business district, discussed what it must have been like to live in this house, up-so-many steps, and worked in that mine, down a thousand feet underground, then visit the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum. The museum's award-wining exhibit, Bisbee: Urban Outpost on the Frontier, conducts you through an explanation of why Bisbee came about, what life was like a century ago, who the residents were, and what they did for entertainment in their everyday lives. You'll see how the people of that day reacted to the social issues of the time, and how their responses helped shaped the city and the nation... and you'll begin to understand the times that your parents or grandparents recall so fondly, and so harshly. The Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum is your adventure into the West's urban past. |
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Location: |
Take I-10 east of Tucson to the Benson exit; stay on Hwy 80 south to Bisbee. Exit to the historic district and you will see the museum -- a two-story brick landmark site, located in the park. |
| Parking: | Paid parking is located directly across from the park. |
| Hours of operation: | Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. closed Christmas and New Year's days |
| Admission fees: |
Adults $4.00; Seniors $3.50; Children (16 and under) Free; Group rates (10 or more) $3.00 with reservation only; |
| Membership: | Yes |
| Handicapped access: | Yes |
| Lunch facilities: | Picnic in the park or nearby "City Park" with tables and play equipment |
| Gift shop: | Offers a variety of books and gift items based on the Museum's historical themes. |
| Curriculum relevance: | Arizona and local Bisbee history, Territorial history, historic mining & minerals. |
| Contact person: | Jim Burke (or museum staff), (520) 432-7071 |
| Arranging a Visit: | Reservations are required at least three weeks in advance. For elementary grades, we require one adult chaperone for every 5 - 10 children (depending on age); for junior and high school, one adult chaperone for every 10 - 15 students. Adult chaperones are given the $3.00 group rate admission fee (waived for the Bisbee Unified School District). All school children are free. |
| Tour description: | All school groups are greeted by our Curator and, if desired, are invited to a 10-to-15-minute presentation on the community's history and the museum. Museum staff members are available to answer questions during your self-guided tour. |
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Outreach programs Within Cochise County, museum staff members offer classroom lecture and slide presentations to fit your curriculum needs. Contact Boyd Nicholl, Curator, (520) 432-7071. Also within Cochise County, three traveling "History Trunks" are available for a one-month loan, at no charge. Curriculum-based, hands-on material, historic photograph albums, books and activities are geared for K - 5th grade. The History Trunks are:
To arrange a loan of a History Trunk, call Donna Gaab, Cochise County Library District, at (520) 432-9250 (this program is funded by the Library Service & Technology Act). |
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page last updated December 30, 2004 06:17 PM |
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