The US 60 History Trail began in 1997 when Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP) donated local mining artifacts from the 120-year-old Magma Mine to the Superior Historical Society, Inc. Because of their age and size, the artifacts were placed in an outdoor setting together with the area's natural history. The Superior Historical Society worked with BHP, the town of Superior, architects, and planners to create a layout that would preserve the legacy of copper mining in Superior and interpret significant mining elements. The trail's purpose is to present four features of early copper mining—power generating, hoisting, hauling, and processing—in an interactive and educational way. Magma Mine operated from 1910 to 1994.