Bisbee, Arizona Art Guide: Galleries & Art Walk

Old Bisbee's brick commercial buildings with houses climbing the hills behind — Old Bisbee climbs the canyon walls of Tombstone Canyon and Brewery Gulch.

From copper to canvas

Bisbee was founded in 1880 on one of the richest copper deposits in the world. The Copper Queen and its neighbors produced copper, gold, silver and a vivid, much-prized turquoise known as Bisbee Blue. When large-scale mining ended in the mid-1970s, the town emptied out, and artists moved in. Victorian houses were cheap, the light was extraordinary and the canyon streets felt like nowhere else in America.

Half a century later, Old Bisbee's brick storefronts hold galleries, working studios, bookshops and cafes, and the town's arts calendar is busier than many cities'.

A short timeline

1880Mining claims staked in the Mule Mountains; the town of Bisbee follows.

Early 1900sBoom years. Bisbee becomes one of the largest towns in the Southwest.

1975Phelps Dodge ends large-scale mining operations in Bisbee.

1970s–80sArtists and craftspeople settle in Old Bisbee's empty storefronts and houses.

TodayGalleries, studios, festivals and a monthly evening art walk define the town.

Bisbee seen from above in 1940, filling the canyon below bare hills — The town in its canyon, 1940

Cars parked along Main Street in Bisbee in 1940 — Main Street, 1940

Rooftops of hillside houses in Bisbee in 1940 — Hillside housetops, 1940

Where to look

Main Street

The heart of Old Bisbee: a winding street of galleries, studios and shops in turn-of-the-century buildings, climbing gently uphill from the Copper Queen Plaza.

Subway Street

Just above Main, a quieter lane of small galleries and studios, and the former home of this studio's storefront gallery.

Brewery Gulch

Once one of the rowdiest streets in the West, now a mix of bars, restaurants and creative spaces running up a side canyon.

Community art spaces

Bisbee's former school and civic buildings have been turned into studios, exhibition spaces and youth arts programs. Look for open studios and exhibitions in the historic Central School building above Main Street.

The art walk

Bisbee has long held a monthly evening gallery walk on the second Saturday, when galleries stay open late, artists are on hand and the streets fill with music. Participating venues and hours change, so check current local listings. For tips on pacing the evening, read Date Night in Bisbee.

Sunlit desert mountains rising above scrubland in southern Arizona — The high desert of southern Arizona on the road to Bisbee.

Plan your visit

Altitude: about 5,300 feet. Evenings are cool and the stairs are steep. Bring water and good shoes.
Getting there: roughly a 1.5-hour drive from Tucson via I-10 and AZ-80.
Beyond the galleries: the mining and historical museum, the underground mine tour and the Lavender Pit overlook tell the copper story.
Collect thoughtfully: read up on buying original prints before you go.

Questions

Where is Bisbee, Arizona?

In Cochise County in southeastern Arizona, in the Mule Mountains about 90 miles southeast of Tucson and a few miles north of the Mexican border.

Why is Bisbee known as an art town?

After large-scale copper mining wound down in the 1970s, low rents and dramatic scenery drew artists, writers and musicians, who filled the historic downtown with studios and galleries.

When is the best time to visit Bisbee for art?

Spring and fall are mild. Plan around the monthly evening art walk, and check local calendars for festivals and open-studio events.

The Bisbee art guide