Copper Queen Mine

While we were in Tucson we decided to go a little further south to Bisbee, AZ and take a tour of the Queen Mine. It's a large copper mine that was in operation for almost 100 years and was one of the most successful mines ever. Now it's a tourist attraction and worth a visit if you're ever in the area. The tour lasts about an hour.

When we first arrived we were outfitted with slickers, hats and mining lanterns with battery packs, just like the real miners who worked there. Then we rode a train that took us down inside the mine. I think I heard it was some 700 feet below ground! I have to say that Luke looked absolutely adorable in his miners outfit and I really wanted a picture of him. Although at the last minute Lyla had a very messy diaper so I had to make a mad dash to the car (while wearing my gear) & get her changed before getting on the train. I made it back just in time to hop on and get this next picture.

We had been told that inside the mine it's 47 degrees year-round so we wore jeans and brought jackets & gloves. We were so glad we did because it really was freezing down there. At least it felt freezing compared to the 100 plus degrees we had just come from.

Honestly I didn't get to learn too much about the mine while down there because Lyla was a little hard to hang onto. Now that she's walking she does not like to be held. LJ and I would hang out in the back of the group to let her walk around a little and keep her happy while Ally & Emily were up in the front by the tour guide.

Then Luke gave us a little bit of a scare. Right after getting off the train he starts asking us to hold him and telling us that he can't walk. This is very strange for Luke and I immediately think that he's getting sick and start worrying about him throwing up down in the mine. We took turns holding him or watching Lyla as the tour guide walked everyone around the mine. Luke was completely lifeless. I thought he was falling asleep but he never actually did. I kept asking him if he felt like he was going to throw up and he always said no. He didn't have any kind of a fever either. He was just so lethargic. I was getting very worried.

Then it dawned on me.....Luke has asthma and we are 700 feet below ground. There's probably not a high level of oxygen down there. In my defense it took me awhile to realize this because he was not wheezing or having any difficulty breathing at all. And his breathing has been so good for such a long time now that I had starting thinking our doctor was a little too quick to give him the asthma diagnosis. Anyway, as soon as this thought hit me I started trying to figure out how to get a quick ride back to the surface. Luckily just then the tour guide announced that it was time to board the train again. I was so happy to hear him say that!

Here we are right before taking off our miners gear. Lyla is falling asleep and Luke is just able to hold his head up by himself. I remember just being so happy to be out of that mine. Ally & Emily really enjoyed it though. As soon Luke's gear was removed he was running around the lobby, asking for a gum ball out of the little machine and acting like a little boy. It was amazing how quickly he returned back to normal.

This is one trip I won't forget. At least now we know Luke should not work in a mine when he grows up!!