Photo Tour!
Click on the blue circle next to each town for photos of the ore carts and information about the town and the ore cart artists (as it becomes available; not all towns have selected an ore cart).

See more Ore Cart Art

The purpose of the project is to increase tourism in the Copper Corridor by providing a scenic alternative route to I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix for visitors.  The Trail will highlight the unique copper mining history and culture of the region as well as its abundant scenic and natural attractions such as the San Pedro and Gila Rivers, and numerous mountain ranges.

The Copper Corridor starts at the intersection of Highways 60 and 177 in Superior and proceeds south through Kearny, Hayden, Winkelman (turning on to State highway 77), Dudleyville, Aravaipa, Mammoth, San Manuel, Oracle, and ending at Oracle Junction.

There is a “destination tourist attraction” at the beginning of the route: Boyce Thompson Arboretum; and another at the end of the route near Oracle: Biosphere 2.

The route will be marked along the way at each community by a turn-out, or park, on the highway containing an ore cart ART project, much like New Mexico’s Trail of the Painted Ponies or Chicago’s cows.   (See postcard for example).  There will be an adjacent kiosk that provides information to tourists about the community’s attractions, local businesses, etc.

The CCEDC has already received government funds that can be used to cover much of the cost of each community’s Ore Cart Art on a reimbursable basis through Congressman Renzi’s Office.  We are presently seeking sources of up front money so that communities will incur little out of-pocket cost.  The CCEDC is committed to achieving the necessary financing.  Communities are expected to participate in the site and art selection processes and in the maintenance once an ore cart site is installed.

The art will be produced by Arizona artists through a Public Art competition.  All Arizona artists are invited to compete.    A jury composed of local representatives from the Copper Corridor will select the artists and the themes they wish to have portrayed in the region’s ore cart art project.