The Town Too Tough To Die

Since we are staying only 24 miles away from Tombstone, AZ, we decided that today would be a good day to head 'em up and move 'em out.


Off we went to see the O.K. Corral where many historical gunfights occurred, as well as the rest of the tourist traps. The streets of Old Tombstone are blocked off and that made it easy to stroll down the wooden boardwalks.


It was fun seeing the old stage coach and rugged cowboys in worn out western wear.



Our first stop was the Tombstone visitor center to get a walking map of the town. Across the street, we found the Rose Tree Museum. The story goes that a small rose tree was sent from Scotland and was planted in a hotel courtyard in 1885. That same, small tree now covers 8000 square feet and 300 people can sit in the shade of it.


The next stop was the Bird Cage Theatre. This building from the 1880's served as a theater, saloon, gambling hall and brothel. While some of the claims are pretty outrageous, it isn't hard to imagine what it was like one hundred years ago.


Inside are some of the original artifacts, including this old bar. And in several places, bullet holes mark the walls, ceilings and paintings.


It is fascinating to see the narrow staircase leading to the tiny rooms where the ladies of the night entertained their guests.



The orginal gas lamps are still in place although they have since been converted to electric.


We wandered the dusty streets some more, in and out of the gift shops. Doug found an old friend!


There are plenty of places to eat, drink and shop. But we just walked and took it all in.



After leaving the old part of town, we stopped at the Boothill Graveyard.


We entered the old cemetary by way of this museum/gift shop. It was laid out in 1878 as the burial place for Tombstone's first pioneers. But because of the many violent deaths, it became known as Boothill Graveyard.


Along with many outlaws and their victims are suicides, hangings and the hardy citizens.


There are over 250 graves and the ones with markers have been researched by all available sources of information, including relatives, old residents and the Arizona Historical Society records.


Some are quite ornate and others are very simple.


And some are pretty clever. Lester was a Wells Fargo agent that died in a dispute over a package.

All in all, an entertaining day with enough history to make it interesting and enough legend to make it fun.