3-Hour Tour - Mountaintop, Old Bisbee, Open Pits, & Lowell

Starting from your chosen pickup spot, the Bisbee Warren Tour begins by exploring Bisbee's origins, including its founding and the impact of its first copper smelter. Next, you'll visit OK Street, John Wayne's favorite hangout, and see the architecture miners built. You'll explore the first brewery site and Brewery Gulch, learning about miners' flood challenges and the historic Red Light District. The tour stops at the Lyric Theater and Central School parking lot, highlighting local history and architecture. A visit to the Old High School delves into the area's educational past. Ascending High Road offers panoramic views and a thorough history of Bisbee. The tour concludes on Main Street at Quality Hill, showcasing historical and architectural details, with three stops that bring Bisbee’s story full circle.

You will go up the mountain above Bisbee and see the Divide from atop a famous tunnel, where a notable 1914 monument is also located. Next, you'll follow a winding dirt road up the mountain, passing by areas where you might spot wildlife and get glimpses of the Sulphur Springs Valley. At the summit in the Mule Mountains, known as the “Towers,” you'll enjoy breathtaking views of nearby mountain ranges and look far into Mexico. On a clear day, you can see the border wall and Douglas, AZ. In some places, you might even find minerals like malachite and turquoise on the ground.

You'll visit the Lavender Pit Lookout, just five feet away from a 900-foot-deep mining pit. Here, the guide will explain the mining methods and equipment used. Next, we'll visit another section of the pit to see the remnants of leaching ponds. Your guide will explain how copper is extracted from ore using the leaching process, deepening your understanding of mining techniques. The tour also covers the social and cultural impact of mining, discussing the history of nearby closed mining communities and the prospects for future mining. This attraction provides a comprehensive look at mining operations, from large-scale activities to detailed chemical processes, all surrounded by beautiful landscapes.

You'll travel to Lowell, AZ, and explore Erie Street, lined with 1940s classic cars and vintage storefronts—perfect for photography. Your guide will provide details about the historic Junction Mine operations in the area. Next, you'll visit the Shady Dell Hotel. As you drive through its lot, filled with classic vehicles and antique artifacts, your guide will explain the hotel's historical and cultural significance. The tour then proceeds to Lowell School, recognizable by its copper roof and doors, where your guide will share historical facts and personal anecdotes related to the school. Another stop includes a visit to a leaching drainage ditch, now polluted, where your guide will recount childhood adventures. The final part of your tour is a drive through the Evergreen Cemetery, a nationally registered historic site. Here, the guide will discuss the cemetery's historical importance and its relevance to Bisbee.