As a copper mining town in southern Arizona Bisbee's mines were originally the traditional underground mines until an engineer for Phelps Dodge Corporation discovered a method for recovering copper from low grade ore. The result was the Lavendar pit mine, named in honor of the engineer, which was more economical than underground mining. Phelps Dodge ceased operations at the mine in 1974. Today the Lavendar Pit is a 900 foot deep, half mile wide tourist attraction.
