Tombstone Arizona
Nothing brings out images of the Old West better than the name Tombstone. It conjures up images of its more famous inhabitants such as the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday and the Clantons. Recent Hollywood productions about these old west characters have left us with a great mental picture of what it was like then.
For those of you who will be traveling through the State of Arizona, Tombstone is a great side trip off of Interstate 10 that can be very enjoyable. While it is still a viable town that people actually live in today, it retains most of its famous character and many of the original buildings. All of the places where history was made are there for you and your family to walk through and stand in.
Tombstone is about 25 miles off of Interstate 10 and is 70 miles south of the center of modern Tucson, Arizona. The road in is a state highway, well paved and well traveled by everything from passenger cars to RV busses. There is camping in the area for tents and RVs as well as cabins, Bed and Breakfasts and small hotels for the less hearty. For information and reservations you can go to the web at www.tombstoneweb.com.
How It All Began
In the mid 1800's the land that Tombstone now sets on was wild and forbearing for any settler coming from the east. It was Apache territory, the ancestral home of Geronimo, Victorio and Nachez, just to name a few. They led the feared Apache warriors throughout Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico protecting it against the white immigrant invasion that was about to begin. For many years, few white men dared to wander through this territory.
However, by 1877 things began to change due to a lone prospector that discovered Silver. After obtaining a stake from an investor in Tucson, he returned to attempt to locate the main vein. Failing to mark the place properly he had lost his bearings and never was able to return to the spot where he had found the original sample.
Later that same year another prospector named Edward Schieffelin came into the area and searched relentlessly for any ore deposit. Edward was determined and went out into the hills and washes every day regardless of the danger that the Apache Indians presented. One person commented to him that "the only rock you will find out there will be your tombstone."
Eventually he did discover a rich Silver vein located in the mountains that were still the home of the Apache. He too found a stake and a partner in Tucson and returned to work the mine. Remembering the words that were said to him he ended up naming a mine, the hills where he found it and a town that had not yet been founded.
The Town Begins
By 1879 the town of Tombstone was being formed on a flat mesa near the mines that grew. At first, there were about forty cabins and around 100 citizens. Within two years, the town grew to over 5,000 people, saw the construction of the Bird Cage Theater, the Crystal Palace saloon and witnessed the gunfight at the OK Corral, all within two years. That is what you call fast moving history.
The nature of the town has changed through the years. It has gone from a lawless mining encampment to the downturn of ore production and near extinction, but it has never died. The population once dwindled to as few as 150. It now boasts around 1,500 inhabitants and uncounted tourists that come there year around taking in a taste of the real old west.
What Is There To See?
When you visit Tombstone today you find a town that is relatively authentic but also updated to modern standards for the people living and working there. There are shops and nice places to eat without the garish promotions and chain fast food establishments. There is a great tour of the city in either a stagecoach or covered wagon that will point out the important features and give the history of all of the sites. You can easily walk back to most of them later for a better and longer look. Here are some of the places for you to explore:
The Birdcage Theater: By 1882 The Birdcage had a reputation that spanned the country. It was a combination saloon, gambling hall and a house of ill repute all rolled into one place. It was the site of 16 known knife and gunfights resulting in taking 26 lives.
Take a tour of it to gain the flavor of the era. The guide will point out some of the 140 identified bullet holes including the one that gave the lady in the painting a second belly button. For nine years it was open twenty-four hours a day without stop.
Inside the entire place is filled with memorabilia of its time, photographs and interesting equipment you can put your hands on. You can also get up on the original stage and see it from the prospective of a performer.
The Crystal Palace Saloon: As you walk in to the saloon it is like stepping back in time. You can visualize the Earp's and Doc Holliday carousing around in there with the Clanton and McLaury brothers.
The saloon lasted from the early 1880's until 1914 when prohibition was passed, that year it became a music and dance hall. It was reopened as a bar when prohibition ended but most of the original lavish decorations were gone. The original bar was taken out sometime during prohibition. In the 1960's they rebuilt the old bar in the image of the original photographs.
The OK Corral: The approximate site of the most famous gunfight in the old west. The actual fight took place next to the corral in an empty lot. It lasted about 30 seconds during which 30 shots were fired and three men died.
Boot Hill: The burial site of 205 identified graves although it is believed there are about 300 there. The graves of Billy Clanton, Frank and Tom McLaury,the three men killed at the OK Corral are there. It is at the North East corner of town.
The Cochise County Courthouse: The town was briefly the seat of Cochise County and boasts a very fine courthouse, complete with the original gallows equipment. Inside is a nice museum worth visiting.
The Tombstone Epitaph: The town once had five newspapers. The Epitaph is its most famous and is now a very interesting museum.
Who were the people that made it famous... and what became of them?
The most famous people to come out of the Tombstone lore are the Earp brothers. These were Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan. Their close associate, Doc Holiday, is also a legend of the old west. Their nemesis' Tom and Frank McLaury, Ike and Billy Clanton along with Billy Claiborne all walked the streets and bellied up to the bars.
Other Sites To See In The Area
If you are going to spend any time in the area, the copper mining town of Bisbee is another piece of old west history worth visiting. It is another 25 miles south of Tombstone.
Also in the area, and much closer to Interstate 10, are the Kartchner Caverns State Park and Colossal Cave Mountain Park. Either will provide you with a great caving experience.
If you have toured any of the California Missions there is a great new experience at the 300 year old Mission, San Xavier del Bac. It is on the way to Tombstone and is quite remarkable. It is still an active parish that serves both the area and the reservation. All are easily reached, plenty of parking and many things to learn about.