Why You Should Visit Tombstone, AZ
Cowboys, saloon girls, shoot-outs, and stage coaches all take us back to the wild time of the Old West, all reminders of a time where Wyatt Earp and his brothers tamed the frenzied town of Tombstone in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. It’s enough to give you goosebumps! After years of seeing myriads of excellent movies like Tombstone with Kurt Russell, and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral with Kirk Douglas, which depicted this town, immersed with the intriguing history of some of the most notorious Old West legends, I dreamed of living in this wild time, in the hopes of meeting such legends as Doc Holiday, Wyatt Earp, Johnny Ringo, and others. It is believed to be our best American example of our 1880s Old West Heritage, with many of the original buildings and artifacts featured for tourism.
Finally, after a lifetime of wishing, I got to see the town just a few years ago, and I absolutely fell in love with it, much as I expected. As soon as you step onto those wooden sidewalks, you just get a feeling, almost like you were in that wild time of untamed abandon.
The town’s meager beginnings goes all the way back to 1879, as a small mining camp with 40 cabins and 100 people. The name “Towmbstone” was the invention of a man named Ed Schieffelin, because his mining comrades warned him he’d found his own “tombstone” rather than riches in silver. Within two short years, the population would boom to 5,000, and the Bird Cage Theatre, the Cochise County Court House, five local newspapers, the Crystal Palace and Oriental Saloons were built, and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral would have already taken place. You can visit these histroic sites still today and they are awesome to see.
Push through the wooden doors of the Oriental Saloon and you will still see saloon girls dancing, cowboys enjoying beers, and the merriment of the town that is an experience of all the senses. You can take a stagecoach ride through the streets, and even witness re-enactments of the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which I found thrilling. The famous gunfight in which the Earp brothers, Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan, along with friend Doc Holliday shot it out with the Clanton and McLaury Gang will mark its 125th year on October 26 of this year.
You can shop in a wide variety of gift shops for souvenirs, visit the Birdcage Theater, which is rumored to be haunted. I also love the idea that the spirits of “Big-nosed Kate,” Johnny Ringo, and the Clanton Brothers could possibly be looming around hotels and the sites they frequented in life.
Several of the saloons in town offer music on the week-ends and dancing, old west style. There are the gunfight shows, stagecoach, horse, and wagon tour rides, and you will not want to miss the old buildings like the Bird Cage theatre, the Crystal Palace Saloon,which will awe you with its original copper ceiling, adobe walls, and the incredible replica of the massive bar, as well as many original “haunted” hotels in the area. The Tombstone Epitaph, now a museum is where you can see past printed stories, and The Silver Nugget Museum also takes you back to the days of fights, gambling, drinking, and brothel entertainment. A restored home, the beautiful Rose Tree Inn Museum, reputably boasts the largest rose tree in the world that is over 100 years old and covers an 8,000 square foot arbor. The rose tree of Tombstone blooms during April of each year. And be sure to visit the Tombstone Arizona Courthouse built in 1882 which is now a state historic park and museum filled with artifacts and old photographs. And witness the town gallows on display in its courtyard.
The Boothill Graveyard is the final resting point for past villains, and those who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. Here, you can view the somewhat comical and slightly mis-spelled headstone of Lester Moore. It reads: Here lies Lester Moore. 4 Slugs from a 44, No Les, No More. The Boothill Cemetery is where some of the Clanton family as well as Frank And Tom Mclaurey lie, featuring the old stone markers with the names marked primitively. It is definitely a must-see.
All towns have a story and a history, but Tombstone boomed from a mere mining town to a fortune-seeker’s haven. Some of the most notorious outlaws and western heroes passed through here, and made history. Called “too tough to die,” it was a miraculous feat to actually survive a day here, as the Boothill Cemetery will attest to-it was no doubt a tough town where an undertaker could definitely “make a killing.” No pun intended. Tombstone is truly alive with the spirit of the Old West, and is well worth considering on your next family vacation or even for a romantic getaway. Just 70 miles of southeast Tucson, and close to Benson, Az., you will find a wealth of luxurious hotels, dining, and entertainment, not too mention the rich history.
