Bisbee, Arizona has a really interesting past. At one point it was the most populous city in Arizona. It was also the wealthiest. Now it’s the poorest. It’s a former mining town that had to reinvent itself (as something of an artists’ colony) after the mine shut down in 1973.

It was interesting to learn about the history of the area, and to see what life in Bisbee is like these days. There is no corporate presence in the town to speak of. There’s one dentist and a couple of doctors, but most everyone gets their medical care out of town. People pick up their mail at the post office, because the hillside homes prevent home delivery. There are a couple of small markets, but no grocery store. It’s steep, secluded, and quirky, and that’s the way the residents like it.

Arizona’s oldest saloon is located in Bisbee, and so is the mining museum, which is affiliated with the Smithsonian. You can stay at a haunted hotel and eat delicious meals. You’ll see plenty of old buildings, street art, and dogs if you visit. If you do, be sure to stop by Kartchner Caverns, which isn’t too far away. It’s pristine and unique, and well worth the price of admission.