I was eager to see historic Tombstone Arizona, iconic town of the wild west. It’s about a three hour drive south from Phoenix, close to the Mexican border. It was one of the last wide-open frontier boomtowns in the American Old West. The town prospered from about 1877 to 1890, during which time the town’s mines produced about $85 million in silver bullion. It was the largest silver district in Arizona. Its population grew from 100 to around 14,000 in less than seven years. Today, it is best known as the site of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and draws most of its revenue from tourism.

Tombstone was an open market for cattle stolen from ranches in Sonora Mexico, by a loosely organized band of outlaws known as The Cowboys (Ike, Billy Clanton, Frank, Tom McLaury). After the arrival of the law abiding Earp brothers (Virgil, Wyatt, Morgan and Warren) there were ongoing conflicts with the Cowboys. The Cowboys repeatedly threatened the Earp brothers until the conflict escalated into a shootout on October 26, 1881. The now-famous gunfight is often portrayed as occurring at the O.K. Corral, but the actual gunfight was on Fremont Street.

They have re-enactments of the gun fight daily at the OK Corral outdoor theatre.

Points of interest:  The Bird Cage Theatre and Boot Hill Cemetery. The Bird Cage Theatre was a combination theater, saloon, gambling parlor and brothel that operated in Tombstone during the height of the silver boom. It had a reputation as the wickedest theatre between New Orleans and San Francisco. And just wander around the town. The Longhorn Restaurant and Big Nose Kate Saloon are buildings with a history. In 1881 assassins fired shotguns at Marshall Virgil Earp from the Longhorn. He was badly wounded, but survived. In 1880, the building that is now Big Nose Kate’s Saloon was the Grand Hotel. Wyatt & Virgil Earp and Doc Holiday frequented the hotel and saloon. It was here that Ike Clanton and Frank & Tom McLaury stayed the night before the THE Gunfight.

Boot Hill Cemetery, formerly called the “Tombstone Cemetery”, is known for its infamous “residents”. It contains the graves of Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury; the three men who were killed during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Lester Moore was a Wells Fargo agent who was shot in 1880 by an irate customer named Frank Dunston. Apparently, he was angry over a package that arrived late and damaged. Before Moore hit the floor, he fired off a shot that killed Dunston, but it was already too late for him. There is some debate if this is true, but for now the potential myth continues.

Where to Stay?

Where to Eat?

  • Crystal Palace Saloon
  • The Longhorn Restaurant – The BBQ pork & beef ribs at the Longhorn are perhaps the best in town. The Longhorn is located on a very historic property. In 1881 assassins fired shotguns at Marshall Virgil Earp from this building. He was badly wounded, but survived.
  • Cafe Margarita 
  • Big Nose Kate Saloon in 1880, the building that is now Big Nose Kate’s Saloon was the Grand Hotel. Wyatt & Virgil Earp and Doc Holiday frequented the hotel and saloon. It was here that Ike Clanton and Frank & Tom McLaury stayed the night before the THE Gunfight.

Enjoy! Giddy up Cowboy!

For more on Arizona please see the following blogs:  Arizona, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon.

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