Gleeson, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gleeson, Arizona
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Remains of Gleeson
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 Gleeson, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Gleeson, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Cochise |
| Founded | c.1875 |
| Named for | John Gleeson |
| Elevation | 4,924 ft (1,501 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| Area code(s) | 520 |
| Turquoise Post Office | October 22, 1890 – September 17, 1894 |
| Gleeson Post Office | October 15, 1900 – March 31, 1939 |
| FIPS code | 04-26700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 24427 |
Gleeson is a cool ghost town in southeastern Cochise County, Arizona. It sits high up, about 4,924 feet (1,501 meters) above sea level. The town first started as "Turquoise" in the 1870s. It was later renamed Gleeson in 1900.
Contents
The Story of Gleeson
The area was first a mining camp called Turquoise. It got its name from the beautiful turquoise mineral found there. Native Americans had mined this mineral for a long time.
From Turquoise to Gleeson
A post office opened in Turquoise in 1890. But it only stayed open for a few years. Then, a miner named John Gleeson found a lot of copper nearby. He started the Copper Belle Mine. This led to a new town, Gleeson, being built downhill from the old Turquoise site. Other mines like Silver Bill and Defiance also opened up.
A Busy Mining Town
The Gleeson post office opened in 1900. About 500 people lived in the town. Most of them worked in the copper mines. They also found lead, silver, and zinc.
In 1912, a big fire destroyed 28 buildings in Gleeson. But the town quickly rebuilt itself!
The End of the Mining Boom
Copper mining became very important during World War I. The demand for copper was huge! But by the 1930s, the mines started to run out of minerals. The Gleeson post office closed its doors in 1939. This marked the end of the town's busy mining days.
What's Left in Gleeson Today?
Even though some families still live there, Gleeson is mostly a ghost town. The last store, which sold rattlesnake products, closed in 2014.
Visitors can explore the cool ruins of old buildings. You can see what's left of a hospital, a saloon, and the foundation of the school. There's also an old cemetery and signs of all the mining that happened. The Gleeson cemetery is west of town, on the road to Tombstone.
The Gleeson Jail Museum
The old Gleeson jail has been fixed up! It's now a museum where you can learn about the town's past.
Where is Gleeson?
Gleeson is about 16 miles (26 km) east of Tombstone. It's located on the southern slopes of the Dragoon Mountains. You can find it on the "Ghost Town Trail" near other old towns like Courtland and Pearce.
Gallery
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The Gleeson Jail when it was finished in 1910.
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Gleeson's Main Street in 1917.
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Gleeson's hospital in 1925.
