The discovery of ore in the Mule Mountains in 1877 began Bisbee’s rise into one of the world’s largest copper-producing centers. By 1905, more than twenty development companies were exploring the district, and its population had grown to the largest in the state. Immigrants from across Europe and the Americas came to work in the mines and build new lives. When mining halted in 1975, artists, craftsmen, and other newcomers joined longtime residents in establishing a unique, vibrant community. With the arrival of a new century in 2000, reclamation of past mining operations began, transforming the landscape and helping make Bisbee a beautiful place to visit while preserving its identity as the Queen of the Copper Camps.