These 18 Rare Photos Show Arizona’s Mining History Like Never Before
By Monica Spencer|Published January 20, 2017
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
It’s no secret that mining has played an important role in Arizona’s history. It led to commerce boom and bust, brought in thousands upon thousands of American settlers, and has been the catalyst of some controversial history and legislature over the decades.
Here’s a peek at some historic photos from public and private collections that help illustrate what the job has looked like over the years.
If you want to get a better sense of what life in the mines was like, especially in the 1800s and early 1900s, you might want to check out a mining history museum, like the Mine Museum in Jerome or the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum.