Gleeson

Gleeson, Arizona is a former mining town nestled in the Dragoon Mountains. Originally established as a small settlement called Turquoise in the 1870s—named after the nearby turquoise mines—it was later renamed Gleeson in 1900 after Irish prospector John Gleeson discovered a rich copper vein. The town quickly grew, boasting a post office, saloons, schoolhouse, and jail to support the booming copper, lead, silver, and zinc mining industry. At its peak, Gleeson was home to several hundred residents. However, as the mines dried up and operations ceased by the 1930s, the town steadily declined. Today, Gleeson stands as a ghost town with a few preserved structures, offering a fascinating window into Arizona’s mining past.