The history of Queen Creek Canyon is really amazing!!! I put a lot of time into the research of Superior Arizona, and put it into the 1996 Karabin - Queen Creek Canyon Guidebook. (Page 48-62).
The Silver King mine is 1/2 mile north of Superior and the Silver Queen mine is the mine seen present today in the town of Superior, (now Magma Mine). By the late 1880’s the Silver King mine was known as the richest silver mine in the USA. It became a big attraction! There are old stories saying Queen Creek Canyon was known at that time as the impossible canyon to travel through, and unfortunate settlers of the town lived in caves along its banks. The early 1900’s building of the road must have been a big project, where afterwards post cards brought curious tourists to the canyon.
What I love about these old post cards is that they show the progression of how the Swift donkey trail then became the new road completed in 1921 (HWY 60), and then became a even newer road with a bridge and three lane tunnel in 1952. One of the cards has a post date 1929 and newer post cards of Queen Creek Canyon are still being made today. This shows that the tourist industry regarded Queen Creek Canyon as being a “Arizona Place Of Interest,” with both its beauty, and it’s mining history.”
Claypool Tunnel Harry Herz - Arizona c.1920s - Post marked Feb 12, 1929. Card # 191 - The tunnel shown is actually the old tunnel in Queen Creek Canyon. - The road is a two lane dirt road.
Claypool Tunnel Herz Post Cards, CA c.1920s Card # 191
Claypool Tunnel Lollesgard Specialty Co. card circa ...? Card # D-42 - The road is paved and side rails are added to the road.
Queen Creek Gorge Lollesgard Specialty Co. circa ....? Card # G-45 - Road is paved
Queen Creek Bridge Lollesgard Specialty Co. circa 1950s - Post marked Sept 3, 1951 Card #G-7 - The new Queen Creek Tunnel opened in 1952. So traffic must have been using the new bridge and still going through the old tunnel during this 1951 date.
Queen Creek Gorge Herz Post Cards - California Card # 226 circa ....? - Looks like photo may have been taken from the Pond climbing area. - Dirt road - sky is almost without clouds. - Second card is same but has post mark Dec 30, 1936
Queen Creek Gorge Herz Post Cards - California Card # 226 circa ....? - Looks like photo may have been taken from the Pond climbing area. - Dirt road - sky is without clouds. Mentions patent. - Second card is same but has post mark Aug 8, 1936
Queen Creek Gorge Harry Herz - California Card # 226 circa ....? - 2/3 clouds in the sky
In Queen Creek Canyon Harry Herz - Phoenix Arizona Card # 228 circa ....? - Dirt road - 3/4 clouds fill the sky.
In Queen Creek Canyon Harry Herz - Phoenix Arizona Card # 228 circa ....? - Dirt road - 2/3 clouds fill the sky. - This card is the same as above, but the clouds in the sky are different.
In Queen Creek Canyon Harry Herz, Culver st. - Phoenix Arizona Card # 228 circa ....? Post mark Aug 1930s - Dirt road - 2/3 clouds fill the sky.
In Queen Creek Canyon Harry Herz - California Card # 228 circa ....? - Dirt road - 1/2 clouds fill the sky.
In Queen Creek Canyon Harry Herz - California Card # 228 circa ....? - Dirt road - 2/3 clouds fill the sky.
In Queen Creek Canyon Herz Post cards- California Card # 228 circa ....? - Dirt road - 1/3 clouds fill the sky.