Tombstone

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Tombstone (and it's surrounding countryside) use to be one of the wildest and deadliest places in the old west. Thankfully today the town is a very safe tourist destination. The town is probably most famous for the gun fight at the OK Corral but was initially founded in 1879 after silver and other minerals were found in the surrounding hills. Along with the discovery of the minerals came the boomtown and capitalist ventures out to make some money.

       

Our friend Tobin is from Arizona and was actually working not far from Tombstone when we passed through. He was able to meet us there for the day and show us around the old west town and give us the local information.

In late 1881 the Bird Cage Theatre opened and was described as the wildest, wickedest night spot between Basin Street (red light district of New Orleans) and Barbary Coast (red light district of San Francisco). The theatre still stands today and as you tour through it you can see just how rough it must have been back then. There are several bullet holes throughout the building.

If you had a bit of money you could get a private booth, away from the lawlessness

An old piano dating back to the late 1800's

The original hurse used for many funerals in early Tombstone

Tombstone was well known for its gambling dens

The ladies of the night needed somewhere to work, so they catered for that as well

OK Corral

The gunfight at the OK Corral took place in the afternoon of 26 October 1881 when Wyatt, Morgan and Virgil Earp, with Doc Holliday fought Frank and Tom McLaury, Billy Claiborne, Ike and Billy Clanton. The gunfight actually didn't take place in the OK Corral but rather just around the corner from it. It last only 30 seconds and about 30 shots were fired. There have been many western movies based on this famous gunfight, with the Earp's being portrayed as the good guys. From what we saw and read there in the town, I don't think either side was the "good guy". It all seemed pretty lawless to me.

They also put on a re-enactment of the gunfight actually in the OK Corral. It gave a good indication of how quickly the hole thing happened.

Actual gunfight location

Re-enactment site