Superior Arizona: A Hidden Gem of History and Natural Beauty

"Welcome to Superior, Arizona - where history meets breathtaking landscapes! Discover the charm of this vibrant town nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. Explore our rich mining heritage, hike scenic trails offering stunning views, and immerse yourself in a community brimming with culture and warmth. From the iconic Apache Leap to the quaint local shops and eateries, there's something for everyone in Superior. Join me on a journey through history and natural beauty unlike any other!"
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#Pinalcitycemetery #Superiorarizona #Pinalcity #Picketpost

[@SeabeeTraveler]

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[@reavisfranklin7727]

I was raised in Superior from 1943 to 1966. I also am a Seabee - USNMCB-3 out of Port Hueneme, CA.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Wow.. you have probably seen a lot of changes there.Thank you for your service, and clarification on the Silver King mine. Have a good day!

[@JubileeValence]

12:30 "Mid-Century Modern" BOOOOMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@reavisfranklin7727]

Superior's hey day was in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. My father worked for Magma Copper Company for 30 years.

[@LongdistanceRider22]

Such a great video of Superior thank you for walking up the old Highway 60 to show us the bridge…

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Glad you enjoyed it Longdistancerider. Have a good one!

[@neilalexander2662]

I knew a girl years ago that grew up in Superior. She said that the locals affectionately called it "Soupie".

[@Latnman101]

Excellent historian love the narration. Come on guys lets get Seabee more subs!

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Thank you angel fish! Yeah come on ....let's some more subs!🤣😂

[@Brian-HistoricMineExplorations]

Another great upload and appreciate the history of this historic town site.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Have a great day!

[@Materialworld4]

Thanks Randy, I know someone who lives in Superior, and I have been there many times in the past. Randy, I really enjoy your videos, and I know it's good to hear that from your audience.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Thank you for the kind words, I really do appreciate it. It's a cool little town to visit. Have a great day!

[@zmanzippy]

Thanks!

[@SeabeeTraveler]

You're welcome, Have a good day!

[@reavisfranklin7727]

Good job! Can Do, Seabee!!

[@dezertraider]

THANK YOU,GREAT CHAN...STAY WELL

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Hi Radical Ralph, Thank you and have a great week!

[@LongdistanceRider22]

Your cinematography and narration is excellent

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Thank you for the kind words. Have a great day!

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The Claypool Tunnel is 22' wide presently. I've measured it. When we used it in the 40s and 50s it was a good 25' wide. Semi trucks had trouble but semis weren't as big then as they are now.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The Queen Creek tunnel was part of the new road which began construction in 1948 and was finished in 1952. The rock had to be blasted for months to create the new tunnel.

[@ronvalderrama5765]

Awesome video! Great adventure.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Thank you sir! glad you enjoyed it!

[@Zap652]

love the history and the cemetery was a neat find.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

I enjoyed learning about this place.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

It's where I went to high school. It is no longer the high school. A new one was built over by the cemetery quite a few years ago.

[@Wilderness-Will]

Superior, AZ is one of the most awesome towns in Arizona. Arnett Canyon, Picketpost Mountain, and Boyce Thompson Arboretum are all amazing, and it's one of the coolest AZ Trail gateway towns. Thank you for sharing!

[@SeabeeTraveler]

I agree. I have hiked around there a couple of times. Arnett Canyon is a really nice hike, I'm glad the fire some time back didn't affect it to badly. Have a great week!

[@roderichroby6236]

Wasn't there a heliograph station at the top of Picket Post? Also involved with some Knights of the Golden Circle history! Superior is a very cool Ariz. town! Wonderful people!!!

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Hi Roderich, it is a neat little piece of Arizona history. Have a great week!

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The white building of the Magma Hotel WAS the adobe part that collapsed when it was abandoned.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

That old building up there is the mine cooling tower. Where you're headed is to Resolution Copper's main office which used to be the Magma Copper Company hospital. Magma operated the mine from way back in the 30s thanks to one William Boyce Thompson who built the Picket Post House and the Boyce Thompson Arboretum around it.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

That ore hopper you mention on old HIghway 60-70, is the ore hopper from the Silver Queen mine.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The Hotel Magma and the MacPherson Hotel Magma are the same hotel. It was abandoned in the 70s and the Chilean bought it and restored it in the early 2000s.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The bottom floor of the adobe section, now the white building, was Murray's Pharmacy and soda fountain.

[@jeanettecameron7530]

My dad was a Seabee.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Wow! That's great! I really enjoyed my time in.

[@jeanettecameron7530]

Surveyed sites for landing strips in the Pacific. Also spent some time in the Aleutian Islands.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Sounds like WW II days. That was when the Seabees were created. 🙂Thanks for sharing that.@@jeanettecameron7530

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The Sprouse Retiz had been there from the early 30s or before. We called it "the dime store."

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The rugged old tunnel is known as The Claypool Tunnel denoting the road from Superior to Miami.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The "other mine" you mentioned is Resolution's #9 shaft where there is an abundance of high grade copper about 7,000 feet below ground.

[@dwilliams1596]

Makes you wonder why the old graveyard is so far away from town. I have been through there many times through the years, but I never took the time to go into the town. I don’t go through there anymore. I should have taken the time when I had the chance.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Hi Donna, Good question, Maybe over the years the settlements relocated as they grew and the old fort went away. Thank you and a wonderful week. Randy

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The mine in Superior is shut down. Drift number 9 is up near Oak Flats and Resolution Mining is trying against all kinds of opposition to open it up.

[@robertvilliard3402]

You should really have an invite option, so I can send to family that live in Arizona. Thanks

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Hi Robert, I'm not aware of the invite option you mentioned, but i'll look into it. Does the share option work for what you need? Hope that helps and have a good day!

[@reavisfranklin7727]

Those boulders weren't there when the road was in use. It was just a shear drop-off. Back then people paid closer attention to their driving.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The building next door to the hotel used to be Wing's Supermarket and restaurant. The Wings and Hings were the large grocers in Superior. They were Chinese immigrants who were supposed to be brothers. They weren't Wing was a Soho. Hing was an Ong.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The Silver King Mine was a silver mine.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

Wing's supermarket was built in the mid-50s.

[@roadgent7921]

Town featured in the film The Gauntlet (1977) starring Clint Eastwood. ✌️

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Wow! I didn't know that. Thank you for sharing that, I will have to check it out. Have a great day.

[@roadgent7921]

@SeabeeTraveler Yes. It's about a 15 minute scene. Fair amount of detail as well. You'll recognise it straightaway! 👌🫡

[@reavisfranklin7727]

Actually, the La Mina Bar was originally Griffee's Market back in the early 50s.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The MacPherson Hotel Magma was the original hotel built my a man from Globe named MacPherson. The brick part is the original part.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The new Queen Creek Bridge you mentioned didn't open until 1952.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The tunnel was illegally closed in the mi2010s. I've been through it time and time again.

[@noahmichael-7652]

Not many though!(at the cemetery). That’s what I’ve always wondered though, where is everyone! All those who came before us anyways:) great video! What’s the boiler for, power?

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Hi Noah, I believe the boilers provided steam power for the lifts that were belt driven. It's always interesting to see the small town cemeteries. Have a great week!

[@reavisfranklin7727]

Gordon and Billie Griffee ran their market from the 30s to the late 60s.

[@davidortega357]

My brother married a girl from superior AZ his wife has family here they use to work in Cooper mines his inlaws are native Americans apache from San Carlos Indian reservation I've been there a couple of times good video

[@reavisfranklin7727]

That white building is NOT the original hotel. An investor from Chile bought the hotel and the white building is the renovation.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The La Mina Bar has never been closed.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

wow! you are very knowledgable about Superior History. Thank you for sharing that with us!

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The tunnel wasn't there when the calvary was around.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

You just walked through a "man cage". It lowers and raised miners down and up the shaft. It's run by cable.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

There were NO barricades or guard rails along highway 60-70 around the tunnel.

[@harmonyriverranch299]

Back in the day they didn't use a bunch of guardrails

[@SeabeeTraveler]

It's always neat to see the old roads and how time has changed things. Have a good week!

[@64sixshooter]

Unfortunately your story about the battle on top at Apache leap is an old wives tale based on two separate battles that took place one on top and the other at the base of the cliff.

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Hi Andrew, Thank you for clearing that up. I'm always glad to get stories straight and sift thru the fact and the fiction. The two battles makes sense and I appreciate finding that out. Thanks again and have a great week!

[@reavisfranklin7727]

You mention Superior up to Globe but neglect Miami, which at one time was as big as Globe and much larger than Superior.

[@rockwoodsteel]

i have never heard of Sprouse Reitz what did they sell ?

[@SeabeeTraveler]

Hi Mark, It was kinda like a Walmart without the groceries. Have a good one!

[@rockwoodsteel]

@@SeabeeTraveler thanks

[@reavisfranklin7727]

The mine is NOT active, it's being maintained only.

[@supitown6013]

The town is full of tweakers and thugs, but the scenery around it is awesome.

[@reavisfranklin7727]

Arboretum, not arbitorium.

[@matildagreene1744]

🤣 The 'big boys' (army) were squatting on native land. No one saw that this was wrong 🙃 Open to all in the world to come and SQUAT......Now the U.S. is struggling to save face. Homeless on the streets in the cities..everyone out to make a buck at all costs.