Clifton in Greenlee County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Clifton Cliff Jail

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010

1. Clifton Cliff Jail Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Blasted from living rock this jail confined many of the bad men who crowed into the district in the boom days. Local tradition says that the first inmate in 1881 was the miner who built the jail. It was contributed to the town by the Lesinsky Brothers who built the first copper smelter on Chase Creek.

Erected 1962 by Arizona Development Board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 33° 3.33′ N, 109° 17.958′ W. Marker is in Clifton, Arizona, in Greenlee County. Marker is on The Coronado Trail (U.S. 191 at milepost 164), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Clifton AZ 85533, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Town of Clifton (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Eagles' Hall (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fermin Palicio Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Phelps Dodge Hidalgo Smelter (approx. 0.3 miles away); San Francisco River (approx.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

half a mile away); Black Hills National Back Country Byway (approx. 3.7 miles away); Jose (Joe) M. Subia Memorial Bridge (approx. 6.2 miles away); Apache Grove (approx. 14.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clifton.

Also see . . . The Clifton Cliff Jail. A short Arizona Stories-Milestones AzPBS.org (KATV-8) video production by Arizona State University with photos and information on the jail. (Submitted on September 29, 2010.)

Additional keywords. jails

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010

2. Clifton Cliff Jail Marker

The entrance to the jail is the small cave opening to the right of the marker.

Clifton Cliff Jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010

3. Clifton Cliff Jail

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,521 times since then and 142 times this year. Last updated on October 1, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 28, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.