Scenic Runway

Tombstone, Arizona was founded in 1879 in what was then the Arizona Territory. Within the city of Tombstone is the historic Old West section which includes the O.K. Corral. Entering the city a sign reads “Tombstone: The Town too Tough to Die”. Tombstone was perhaps the most famous of the Old West towns of the 1800’s, notably known for its western gunfighters as well as the site of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Allen Street

While driving to Tucson, I decided to make a detour to Tombstone to explore and personally view a part of old western history. Upon my arrival, I immediately noticed the dirt roads, horse drawn stagecoaches and western rustic feel of the town. It felt like I was being transformed back into the 1800’s, the era of the western gunfighter. This historic area of the town has been preserved as if it were an Old West frontier town in the 1800’s. As I walked down the street I came across the famous O.K Corral, the scene of the epic gun fight between the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday and the McLaury and Clanton brothers in 1881. The events of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral are reenacted by actors every afternoon. Gunfights and stagecoach rides and other western activities are performed throughout the day as a means of recreating the Old West atmosphere.

Bird Cage Theatre

Many of Tombstone’s historic buildings from the Old West have been preserved. Among them are St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, built in 1882; the Crystal Palace Saloon, the Bird Cage Theatre and the Tombstone Epitaph building, where the “Tombstone Epitaph” newspaper is still printed. Souvenir shops and restaurants now line the streets of the “The Town too Tough to Die”. Tombstone is also home to the most famous graveyard of the Old West, Boot Hill. Buried at the site include victims from the O.K. Corral gunfight and various bad-men that were lynched or legally hanged in Tombstone’s early years.

Visiting Tombstone was a unique and interesting adventure which took me out of my normal traveling experience. But I am certainly glad I decided to make the detour in order to experience a little bit of the Old West.

Tags: Arizona, Tombstone