Historic Erie Street

 Lowell, Arizona was established in 1904 by the Copper Queen Mining Company and quickly became a thriving town with a vibrant commercial district. For years deep mine shafts were required to access the cooper ore but in 1950 Phelps Dodge which controlled most of the mining operations in Lowell, Bisbee, and the surrounding area began open pit mining. The pit swallowed up the residential district of Lowell. Houses and business were either moved to newly formed towns south of the city or demolished after home owners received market value for their property. One small section of Erie Street remained.

The closing of the mine in 1974 doomed the business that lined both sides of Erie Street. Local businesses and the Lowell Americana Project have been preserving the buildings and adding to the atmosphere by parking antique cars, trucks, busses along the street. The only business that appears to still be open is the Bisbee Breakfast Club but it's fun to see all of the old cars and restored signs. There's an overlook of the pit at the north end of the street where the parking lot is located but for a better view drive north on Route 80 to the Lavender Pit Viewing Area.

 

The sidewalks on Erie Street are in poor condition with steps and cracks - not accessible. When we visited on a cool, rainy December day there wasn't any traffic and we could use the street. It has a good slope so wheelchair users may need assistance. 

Parking is located at the north end of Erie Street. RVs will fit if pulled through the spaces or parked at the far end of the lot. Erie Street  31.43138, -109.89499