A color postcard of upper Main Street in Bisbee. The Masonic lodge is shown in the left of the image. The back caption reads: “Bisbee Arizona Historically Arizona's "Queen of the Mining Camps," Bisbee is the West of both now and then. The faraway echoes of the raucous, brawling mining days of the 1880's blend with the modern city of Bisbee today. Copper mining, cattle ranching, agricultural production military activity and tourism attractions have all been factors in Bisbee's economy.” The postcard is unused and was published by Petley Studios 4501 van Buren, Phoenix, Az. City of Bisbee Collection.

Once a small, winding pack mule road, Bisbee’s Main Street became the main artery of town. In the early years of the copper boom wood shacks, small businesses, and boarding houses sprang up alongside the dirt road. As miners, merchants and their families moved to Bisbee for the copper boom the area became crowded. It was battered by monsoon floods and scorched by fire; the great fire of October 14th, 1908 burned many of Main Street’s businesses to ash. As long as the mines were still productive, Bisbee residents had the will to rebuild they enforced fire codes and rebuilt in cement and brick, setting in the canyon a city that would survive generations. Among the many businesses that once operated on Main Street include the Fair Store, the Bisbee Daily Review, the Bank of Bisbee, JCPenney, DeSoto and Plymouth, Enna Jettick Shoes and F.W. Woolworths. Today along with its restaurants, hotels, and shops; galleries and antique stores have today become a staple of the businesses along Main Street.

1992.24.21