Every little bit of history, and your life there you find, is a gold mine- Tallia Pfrimmer Calhoun on Ruby, her childhood home
Making History
The first Europeans to visit the Ruby area were Spanish conquistadors in the late 1500’s. In the 19th century the region was referred to as “Oro Blanco,” or white gold after a distinctive light colored strain. Later, as colonists moved west, there was an influx of adventurers, mountain men, ranchers and miners. The first strike in the Montana vein was in the late 1870’s, and by the turn of the century, the town of Ruby had become the largest mining camp in the area. Site of fortunes made and lost and two famous double homicides, Ruby was once the largest lead and zinc producing mine in the state of Arizona. Our museum houses artifacts from mining days, plus photos of what Ruby was like when 1,200 people lived near the mine at the height of its production. Ruby, Arizona - Mining, Mayhem and Murder is a book about Ruby's fascinating history. Copies can be bought from Caretaker.