Arizona Illustrated

The Copper Queen Library in Bisbee is the oldest continuously operating library in Arizona and it’s been getting national recognition in recent years. In 2019, the Library Journal named it as the best small library in the country, and in 2022, it was the only library in the state to be among 30 finalists for the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The Copper Queen’s building is historic and has prominent architectural features while offering modern services. These include computer classes, a seed bank, and a tool rental program at the adjunct facility which operates at a former public school in a different section of the city. Most people who visit Bisbee stay in the city’s old historic downtown, but those who venture to other locations will find new places to explore or relax. One such place is a microbrewery that has been around since the 1980s, prior to the surge in these establishments around the state. The City of Bisbee has several historical attractions, and one of them was recently acquired by the town. It is called Camp Naco, and it recently was awarded millions of dollars for restoration projects which plan to honor the past while making plans for the future. Built between 1898 and 1900 in the historic town of Bisbee, the Muheim House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Although currently a museum owned by the city, it was once home to a local merchant who was instrumental in the growth of the community more than 100 years ago. It is the “smaller sister” of the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, which also oversees the Muheim House although both are dependent on volunteers.