Encampment is known by some folks as "Grand Encampment." On the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Grand Encampment used to be a hot spot for copper mining and smelting. Copper had been discovered in 1897 and hundreds of folks flocked here trying to get their share of the riches. For years a 16-mile aerial tram brought copper ore to the smelter in town from the mines back in the Sierra Madres. This steam-powered tram was the world's longest, at that time, and could carry up to almost 1,000 tons of ore per day. The ore body ran out in the early 1900's and mining in the area all but stopped. After that, Encampment survived as a timber/sawmill camp but even that business closed up shop several years ago.

The Encampment Opera Hall is still seeing at least twice yearly performances on its' more than 100-year-old stage. Every year on Father's Day Weekend there's a performance given by the Encampment Opera Company during the Woodchoppers Jamboree and Rodeo.

Be careful at the Encampment Museum: one of the items on display is an infamous 2-story outhouse...