A black and white photo postcard, circa 1913, showing some crystals from the Crystal Cave in the Shattuck Mine. The postcard is unused, and the publisher is unknown. Alice Metz Collection.

The Shattuck cave in Bisbee was discovered in April 1913 after a dynamite blast on the 300’ level of the Shattuck Mine revealed a large oval chamber. The cave measured 270 feet in length, 180 feet in width and was 170 to 175 feet at its tallest point. The cavern was covered in mostly white crystals with some splashes of red, blue, and green. This coloration was given by trace amounts of iron and copper. In the center of the cavern hung stalactites measuring from 20 to 40 feet in length. The Shattuck & Arizona Mining Company lit up the interior with electric lights and permitted thousands of people to visit. The Shattuck cave hosted a unique dance and banquet on April 8th, 1916, as part of a special reunion held by the Arizona Elks. The mine was temporarily shut down for the occasion. The event was organized by Joe Walker and music was provided by the Copper Queen Band. Unfortunately, the natural beauty of the cave could not outweigh the ever-increasing copper demand. For miners’ safety and for the structural integrity of the mine, the Shattuck cave was filled in with waste rock. Before this was done, several mineral specimens were sent out. One of the recipients was A.J. Houle, a professor at the Michigan College of Mines. His brother, Arthur Houle, was a Superintendent at the Shattuck & Arizona Mining Company and had kept him in mind.

2001.17.16.17