There are also many ghost towns left from early gold rush days. The Biosphere II near Tucson was built to provide a self-contained living environment. Eight people to lived for 2 years in the Biosphere as part of an isolation experiment in 1991 to 1993. Major Industries Top of Page Natural resources include gold, silver and copper. Agriculture includes cotton, grain and livestock.
Tourism also contributes significantly to the economy.
Historical Highlights Top of Page Arizona was originally the home of Apache, Hopi, Navajo and other tribes. The first Europeans were Spanish explorers travelling north from Mexico. In 1539, the Franciscan missionary Father Marcos de Niza came to Arizona in search of gold to claim for Spain. Other spanish missionaries came to Arizona to establish missions and bring Christianity. In 1540, De Cardenas discovered the Grand Canyon.