January | 2026 | TimManBlog

28 Jan 2026

Discover the Historic Beauty of Bisbee, Arizona in Pictures

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January 28, 2026

Boasting of having “the best year-round climate on Earth,” Bisbee, Arizona, sports a dusting of snow on its hillsides on a crisp, cold January morning. Bisbee is an old Western town that does a nice job of combining its old mining-town look with newer shops and restaurants. Seniors love it here. Motorists enjoy the winding streets through Bisbee’s hillsides, not knowing what lies around the next bend. I’d say it’s the American Southwest’s answer to an Italian mountain village like Assisi or Perugia.

Bisbee, Arizona — the “Best Year-Round Climate on Earth.”

The following photographs will take you on an inspiring journey through Bisbee’s winding streets, showcasing its historic hotels and leading you up to the magnificent Cochise County Courthouse on Tombstone Canyon Road. We will conclude at the remarkable source of Bisbee’s old wealth — an open-pit copper mine.

We’ll start near the bottom of the hill, near the old post office building, and move upward from there.

United States Post Office and the Western Bank across the street in Bisbee.

Amid the scrub trees on the hillside behind the hotel is a giant “B” for “Bisbee.”

The historic Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee.

Bisbee’s hillsides can be snow-covered in January, but the canyons below remain warm.

Winding uphill now, we pass old Victorian buildings. Downtown Bisbee is amazing!

Above downtown, along Tombstone Canyon Road, stands a statue of a miner in front of the Cochise County Superior Court building. This statue, created by a local artist in 1935, is commonly referred to as Iron Man, the Virile Copper Miner, or the Copper Man. Its official name is the Courthouse Plaza Miners’ Monument. Interestingly, the statue is not made of iron or copper; it is made of concrete and coated in copper.

The Bisbee Copper Miner — “The Iron Man“

Below the statue is a plaque dedicated to “those virile men, the copper miners…”

In the nearby plaza, the impressive Art Deco Cochise County courthouse stands as a tribute to copper. The building features all the distinctive Art Deco elements, including brass doors, ornate lampposts, and whitewashed walls.

Approximately a mile away, but still within the city limits, lies the Lavender Pit open-pit copper mine. Although it closed in 1974, the pit continues to produce a small amount of metal through leaching.

The Lavender Pit copper mine (closed in 1974).

Cochise County within the state of Arizona

Click here for a list of all TimManBlog American County Seats Series posts.
The photos in this post were taken either on January 7, 2007, or December 14, 2012, and are copyrighted by Tim Seibel.

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Posted in County Seats, Travel Posts and tagged architecture, art deco, Bisbee, Bisbee Arizona, Bisbee Copper Man, Bisbee Grand Hotel, Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, books, Cochise County, Cochise County Arizona, Cochise County Courthouse, Copper Man, Copper Miner, Copper Queen Hotel, Courthouse Plaza Miners's Monument, food, Iron Man, Iron Man Statue, Lavender Pit, Open-pit copper mine, photography, The Copper Man, travel, Virile Bisbee Copper Miner, Virile Copper Man, Virile Copper Miner | Leave a comment

20 Jan 2026

Kansas City: Day and Night Sightseeing

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December 31, 2025

Downtown KC channeling its Wild West roots in the Power and Light District.

Kansas City is the largest city in the state of Missouri by both population and area. Founded in the 1830s at the junction of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, it is today known for its barbecue cuisine and as one of the most dynamic cities in the American Midwest. Starting with a walk around downtown and ending in Country Club Plaza’s bright Christmas decor, this post will show you some of the city’s best sights. Enjoy!

The *Hilton President Hotel*, and the *Drum Room* lounge on the corner.

The Kansas City Public Library looks classical inside the old First National Bank building.

Below: some inspired sights near the library:

While wandering downtown, I discovered a hilly landscape with blocks that rise and fall. The Power and Light District, located next to the Sprint Center, offers a variety of bars and restaurants for post-game celebrations.

Jackson County, Missouri, has two seats and two courthouses—one located in Kansas City and the other in Independence. Independence is the older seat; Kansas City was added in the mid-20th century as it grew in prominence.

I read that the courthouse in Kansas City (shown below) was built in the 1930s at the behest of Tom Pendergast, the “boss” of the city’s Democratic Party machine. This is a 10- to 15-story, yellow-brick Art Deco structure typical of the era. I stepped inside briefly without going through security and saw a large Christmas tree in the lobby, along with pressed-metal ceilings and Art Deco trim.

Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City, Missouri

In front of the courthouse stands a statue of Andrew Jackson on horseback. Jackson County was named for him. Across the street, a statue of Abraham Lincoln depicts him seated and playing with one of his young sons in front of City Hall. City Hall has the same design as the county courthouse, but is a few stories taller.

I made my way up to Quality Hill and Case Park for the scenic view overlooking the Missouri River, just downstream from its junction with the Kansas (Kaw) River. This high bluff rises approximately 200 feet above ice flows in the rivers below. At the peak stands the Corps of Discovery statue honoring Captains Lewis and Clark, who passed this spot on their way to the Pacific and back in 1804-06.

“Of Courage Undaunted” were Thomas Jefferson’s words honoring the Corps of Discovery.

The view to the west from this point stretches beyond the river junction, revealing the buildings of Kansas City, Kansas, and extending deep into the plains that were once the territory of resettled Native American tribes. This spot once served as a lookout point at the edge of the United States.

The westward view from atop Quality Hill: the Missouri River, Kansas, and the plains beyond.

I had a good winter’s day wandering around downtown Kansas City. For the evening, though, I drove five miles south to see a shopping area.

Country Club Plaza is renowned for its high-end stores and wealthy clientele, as well as for its Spanish-style architecture. During the Christmas season, the buildings in the Plaza are beautifully decorated with lights outlining their frames, creating a stunning visual display. This distinctive lighting style, known as Plaza Lighting, is often mimicked in smaller towns across the Midwest.