More of Clifton, Arizona

We visited two old mining towns in New Mexico, but the mining there had stopped in the late 1800’s. Clifton is as old as those towns and the mine is still going.

The old downtown is along Chase Creek Street. It looks like there’s work being done to revive it.

Clifton had the first mine railroad in Arizona.

This is the old jail that was blasted from the rock. The small stone buildings are just the entry.

Notice the blue in the stones. At first I thought it was painted, but then realized that’s copper.

Down some steps there are two cells.

Only one of the cells has a window. I guess that was for the good prisoners.

The old passenger depot is now a tourist center.

The San Francisco River must flood, because there’s a levee. Here we are coming off the bridge over a low area in the levee. But there’s a wall and huge stone gates for the road, the railroad and the sidewalk!

Matey and I crossed this old wood decked bridge on our walk this morning.

We walked by some interesting houses…

and walked on some unusual sidewalks.

Clifton is a quaint little town overshadowed by the huge Morenci Mine. This photo was taken on a hill southeast of town. Clifton is tucked down in the folds of the hills, but you can see the altered mountaintops of the mine beyond it.