Bisbee and Tombstone

Each place we visit that isn't a National Park seems to be so oriented to tourism.  Like none of the original history remains, only the made up stuff for the benefit of tourist.  We have been looking for a place that has the tourism angle while keeping it kind of hidden from view.  In most places it is very blatant but not so much in the little haven of Bisbee, Arizona.

We arrived this morning and parked and wandered through the streets stopping in a couple of different shops and went to the Copper Queen Hotel.  This town was named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee who was one of the original stake holders in the Copper Queen Mine that produced gold, silver and copper.  Founded in 1880 it became the county seat when the office was moved from Tombstone.  It is a quaint little town and I would guess many of the buildings are from the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Outdoor art work

One of the old inns

Theater

Street

Street

Hotel

We found a shop that water cuts contemporary designs from sheet metal.  Many have a southwestern design.  We bought a facing kokopelli design to hang on the barn at Gold Bar.

After wandering through Bisbee and being very happy that we visited we went to Tombstone.  Unfortunately I can't give it the high marks I gave Bisbee.  It is as blatant as you can get.  Tourism is everywhere and while I did enjoy some of the characters and pieces of history I can't say the same about the rest of town.  It looks like a lot of the buildings were constructed just for the tourism and weren't actually around when the Wyatt Earp walked the streets.  The whole town seems to be centered around grabbing as much money from those visiting as possible.  Still there were some sights.

Long Branch

Looked real enough

On the way back to the trailer we stopped at Costco and did some shopping and hit the interstate for another twenty mile drive.  The black skyline had been following us and it caught up with us as we approached Pichado.  Enough rain fell that we were concerned that since we had left the roof vents open on the trailer we might be flooded.  Imagine our relief when we arrive to sun in the trailer park while not a quarter of mile away the black clouds are producing lighting bolts and loud rumbling thunder.

Hope all is well and thanks for stopping by.