Spent three nights (parts of four days) visiting Tombstone, Arizona, last week. For someone who has watched all three of the latest Hollywood versions of “OK Corral”, plus the Star Trek rendition (Spectre of the Gun), I was surprised to learn that the OK Corral was not the site of the infamous gunfight. It occurred in an empty lot near the corral. There were only eight participants—four cowboys (Clanton gang outlaws) and four marshals, if you count Holliday as one along with the three Earps. Three cowboys were killed; Ike Clanton ran away and lived a while longer until getting into trouble again. The Earps fled town a few weeks after the gunfight (October 26, 1881) after two brothers were shot (one killed) by resentful local cowboys. Altogether, the Earps were in Tombstone less than three years. The town folks’ favorite movie version appears to be the 1993 one starring Kurt Russel as Wyatt. I guess he most closely resembles the Marshall. Holliday’s line “I’m your Huckleberry” from that one appears on most everything of a souvenir nature--cups, posters, shot glasses, Tee-shirts, caps, etc.
The place is reminiscent of a theme park but it is an actual town, one that the silver-mining interests built in short-time to support mining operations. So its hey-days ended when mining ceased around 1889. The view of the Dragoon mountains toward east is very impressive. Those were the stronghold of Cochise, Geronimo, and their Chiricahua Apaches before they finally being taken into custody. A vast open area lies between the town and the mountains.
Boot Hill is situated on a sloping terrace with graves arranged in rows with all head markers (most of which are of wood) facing east toward the rising sun. “So cold, so still ...” goes the theme song of the Lancaster & Douglas movie version. The morning we visited it was cold; the coldest day of the week; in the 40s of degrees F with a fair breeze. Tombstone lies at 4541 feet elevation, so it’s cool/cold in fall & winter. Its motto is: “The Town too Tough to Die.” So there’s more history than what I relate here. It’s worth a visit to find out why.
PS: The nearest grocery store is 22 miles away. So come prepared!
KG
The place is reminiscent of a theme park but it is an actual town, one that the silver-mining interests built in short-time to support mining operations. So its hey-days ended when mining ceased around 1889. The view of the Dragoon mountains toward east is very impressive. Those were the stronghold of Cochise, Geronimo, and their Chiricahua Apaches before they finally being taken into custody. A vast open area lies between the town and the mountains.
Boot Hill is situated on a sloping terrace with graves arranged in rows with all head markers (most of which are of wood) facing east toward the rising sun. “So cold, so still ...” goes the theme song of the Lancaster & Douglas movie version. The morning we visited it was cold; the coldest day of the week; in the 40s of degrees F with a fair breeze. Tombstone lies at 4541 feet elevation, so it’s cool/cold in fall & winter. Its motto is: “The Town too Tough to Die.” So there’s more history than what I relate here. It’s worth a visit to find out why.
PS: The nearest grocery store is 22 miles away. So come prepared!
KG
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