Tumacacori National Historical Park (a part of the National Park Service) is 20 miles south of where we are staying in Green Valley. The area was first settled in 1691 by Jesuits from Spain. King Charles III, in 1767, abruptly banishes all Jesuits from his realms. In their place were the Franciscans. They used the church the Jesuits built in 1757, but it was not big enough for their needs, so in 1800, they began building the church you see in the photos. The church was finally finished in 1828. The Mexican-American war in 1846 - 1848 cuts supply lines to the Franciscans and along with Apache attacks and a cold December of 1848, Tumacacori was abandoned. It was created as a Monument in 1908 under the U.S. Forest Service, put under the NPS in 1916 and changed to a Historical Park in 1990.
The Queen Mine is located in Bisbee, Arizona, about 75 miles SE of Tucson. At one time, it was the largest copper mine in the world. It closed in 1975 after almost 100 years in operation. Significant amounts of gold, silver, lead and zinc were also mined. Tours of the mine started Feb. 1st of the next year. The tour takes you 1,500' into the mine (horizontally, not vertically).
The alter is under the white dome.
The 'church' part is to the left; the right side was used as offices and classrooms.
The ceiling was supposed to be dome shaped, but they didn't have enough money, hence, the flat roof. The artwork on the back wall is what is left of the original.
Cousin of the GEICO gecko ?
Entrance to the Queen Mine.
Ready to go in !
Sorry it's a little out of focus; I had to hurry or they would have left me behind.
Sonny, our tour guide. He worked in this mine for 20 years and was the last man out when it was closed in 1975.
Stuff left behind.
More equipment used in the mine.
Yes, it's what you think it is. Sonny said that when you go down in the mine, you didn't come out until the end of your shift - gotta go somewhere !!
Do I look like a miner ??
Some of the minerals and metals brought out of the mine. Mother nature can sure make some pretty stuff. Looked even better in person.
These and the ones above were in the mine museum in downtown Bisbee.
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