PreservE Our buildings-preserVE our history

"Architecture profoundly shapes a town's identity by reflecting its history, culture, and values, creating a tangible sense of place and belonging that distinguishes it from others."  - Anon

You simply cannot separate either the history or the identity of Old Bisbee from the architectural significance of its structures.  Each building is its own little historical treasure trove, each significant in its own way, each defined by the contributions, trials and tribulations of the people who have occupied it in the past.  From the humble miner's shacks that dot the mountainsides to our iconic courthouse and legendary buildings of downtown Old Bisbee, each has a story just waiting to be told.  

Often described as "having the highest concentration of architecture, per square inch, in the state of Arizona" and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980, the Old Bisbee Historic District consists of over 80 contributing buildings, most built between 1890 - 1915.  Architectural styles within the district include Victorian Italianate, Second Renaissance Revival, Sullivanesque, Art Deco, Streamline modern, Neo-Classical Revival, Gothic Revival, Mission Revival and Colonial Revival. 

Many of the commercial buildings in the district were designed by their original owner/builders.  These men (not trying to offend anyone here but I have yet to find a contributing building in the historic district that was designed by a woman), many of whom were recent immigrants to the states, often incorporated the architectural styles of their countries of origin into their creations.  Several notable architects, both local and regional, also left their marks of the town's architecture.  Henry C. Trost, a prominent architect based in El Paso, designed both commercial and residential buildings throughout Bisbee.  Of particular note, Trost designed the Fair Annex Building at 57 Subway Street, one of the buildings on our Currently Endangered List. Roy Place, out of Tucson, designed the iconic Cochise County Courthouse on Bisbee's Quality Hill in the popular Art Deco style of the day. Frederick C Hurst, and architect of the Copper Queen Mining Co. and likely Bisbee's most notable local architect, designed many of the buildings in Old Bisbee including the Bisbee Opera House, Central School, and the Old Bisbee Fire Hall.  

Check out the videos below.  A couple of oldies but goodies!