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Where should we go first? We decided a day trip
to Tombstone, home of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the OK Corral, would
prove to be a nostalgic trip into the old west. Tombstone, an historic
1880’s town, is located about 70 miles southeast of Tucson, just off
Highway 80.
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Unless you happen to be an old west history buff,
learn the stories behind what you see. We highly recommend starting
your visit at Tombstone’s Historama, a 26-minute multimedia presentation
into Tombstone’s colorful past. The Historama is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Visitors should take note there is a saving of
$1.50 if you purchase a Tombstone Adventure Pass. This pass includes
admission into the Historama, the OK Corral Exhibits, the 2:00 p.m.
reenactment of the Gunfight at the OK Corral and your own copy of the
1881 Tombstone Epitaph. This reprint includes actual gunfight and murder
inquest reports.
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The famous Gunfight at the OK Corral took place
on October 26, 1881. Much to my surprise, Virgil Earp, not Wyatt Earp,
was Tombstone’s Sheriff. Sheriff Virgil had deputized his brothers Wyatt
and Morgan, along with Doc Holliday, to help him disarm five cowboys.
Those five cowboys were Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, Ike Clanton, Billy
Clanton and Billy Claiborne. When the shooting started, unarmed Ike
Clanton and Billy Claiborne fled to safety, the three others were killed.
Further information can be obtained by logging onto
www.ok-corral.com. |
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The historical American West is well preserved
in Tombstone’s original 1880’s buildings and artifacts. Stroll down
the streets and view Big Nose Kate’s Saloon (free entertainment daily),
the Bird Cage Theater (Registered National Monument), the Crystal Palace
(operating in Tombstone since 1879) and the Tombstone Epitaph (founded
1880), to name just a few. Visit Tombstone on the web by logging onto
http://www.tombstone1880.com.
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Be sure to see the Tombstone Courthouse, State
Historic Park, built in 1882. Huge rooms inside this structure hold
evidence of the wild, wild west. Documents on display include a tax
license for operating a brothel and invitations to a hanging. Additional
information can be obtained by logging onto
http://www.pr.state.az.us. |
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If you’d like to go easy on your feet, we recommend
the highly informative Tombstone Stagecoach Lines tour, located in front
of The Whistle Stop. Tour the town via stagecoach and see the homes
of Virgil Earp, Doc Holliday and John Safford, view lots of other historical
sites and even hear the history of the mines. Additional information
can be obtained by calling
520-457-3191. |
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Another of the area’s Registered National Monuments
is Boothill, Tombstone’s original graveyard. Used from 1879-1884, Boothill
is the final resting-place of the good, the bad and the innocent. Boothill
is open seven days a week, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission into Boothill
is free, however donations are accepted.
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Browsing Tombstone’s unique shops and art galleries
could almost become a whole day affair! One shop that caught Gerry’s
eye was the G. F. Spangenberg Pioneer Gun Shop, established 1880. The
shop is located on Fourth Street between Freemont and Allen. The list
of their old west clients reads like a whose who of the frontier. Purchases
are recorded on an original 1880’s style invoice.
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As you can see, there’s a whole day’s worth of
activities here in Tombstone. If your home base is not relatively close
to Tombstone, you might want to consider staying at one of the local
motels, bed & breakfasts or campgrounds.
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