Here are some shots of the Queen Copper Mine, which was established by George Warren and Edwin Reilly in 1879.  The Douglas family, and Phelps-Dodge Corporation (now Fairport-Mc Moran) later bought the mine and expanded on it.

• Here are four shots of the mine, which may also be toured, if scheduled in advance.

                               

                                

  There is probably a fair amount of copper tailings in the Queen, but Fairport- McMoran’s operations have shifted to an area across the street.

  The mine was the focal point of a serious labour dispute in 1917.  This culminated in the deportations, on July 17 of that year, of 2,000  men, who were members of the International Workers of the World (IWW).  This was orchestrated by Sheriff Harry Wheeler, of Cochise County and Walter Douglas, the president of Phelps-Dodge Corporation, which owned the mine.  Wheeler was greatly concerned with “getting rid of German spies”, which is how he saw the labour activists.