History

It all started when…

Originally built by John Quill in 1937 along U.S. Route 80 during the golden era of the American Road trip, the JQ has been catering to travelers for over 80 years. Originally a service station and motor lodge, Quill and his family operated the motel until the mid-1970s and we’ve been serving up homestyle hospitality ever since.

Whether you’re looking for vintage lodging from which to launch your Southern Arizona adventure or a comfortable place to park your motorbike for the night, the JQ has you covered. With cozy rooms within walking distance of historic downtown and friendly hosts who are hip to the local happenings, the Jonquil is the perfect place to make your own Bisbee history.

Once known as the Queen of the Copper Camps… a brief history of Bisbee...

Bisbee was founded as a mining stronghold in the Mule Mountains of Southern Arizona. Bisbee became one of the richest mining sites in the world, producing billions of pounds of copper, zinc, and other minerals. By the early 1900’s, Bisbee was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco with over 20,000 people. 

The mining remained active until the mid-1970s, and the closure ushered in a major cultural shift. A movement of free-spirits and artists were drawn to the historic downtown and settled to pursue their creative endeavors. The population now rests at 5,500 and retains a rich cultural and cosmopolitan history.

Want to learn more about the history of Bisbee... 

Take the Queen Mine Tour http://www.queenminetour.com/ or visit the Bisbee Mining Museum https://bisbeemuseum.org/ and the Bisbee Restoration Museum http://bizrm.com/. Or simply walk the historic streets and visit the shops and galleries inspired by the creative spirit that makes Bisbee what it is today. 

For additional reading on Bisbee’s mining history, check out https://www.bisbeeminingandminerals.com/.