Whether we would even remember this out-of-the-way town in southeastern Arizona near the border of Mexico is debatable had it not been for one small incident, a mere few seconds, that has gone down in history.  Depending upon your perspective, it was either justice or murder, but, in either case, it put Tombstone, Arizona in the history books and in the movies.

A spectacularly brief gunfight near the O.K. Corral etched the names of Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp, Doc Holliday, the Clantons and the McLaurys into a very strange place in history.  To this day, the question still is debated as to whether the Earps and Doc Holliday, who were cleared of all charges, actually committed murder or were just upholding the law.

Numerous movies have taken on the subject … Wyatt Earp, Tombstone, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and even the TV show, Star Trek. And in the best of Hollywood tradition, the production companies of the aforementioned never set foot in the real Tombstone to film a single scene.

The O.K. Corral

Today the O.K. Corral doesn’t look like much from the outside.  Actually, you can’t even see the place the gunfight took place unless you buy a ticket to watch the re-enactment inside an enclosed area.  (According to all accounts, the gunfight never took place there at all, but nearby.)

The infamous O.K. Corral

What is certain is that on October 26, 1881 the “good guys” and the “bad guys” (you choose which group is which) met at a narrow vacant lot in the vicinity of the stables and began shooting, culminating in a 30-second battle that spilled out into Fremont Street, which is now Arizona Highway 80.

One block to the south is Allen Street which is also paved, but is closed to traffic on the weekends.  Stagecoaches ramble down the street carrying tourists while re-enactors play out skits in the street.  For several blocks, the buildings have been reconstructed or preserved to an 1860s western town look.  At the opposite end of the three historic preservation blocks is the infamous Bird Cage Theatre.

As I walked out the door from the large gift shop at the O.K. Corral, I happened to run into the Billy Clanton re-enactor who wasn’t too happy that several of us were leaving the premises.

“What’s a matter, you don’t like gunfights?” He paused. “We’re gonna kill some people in a few minutes!”

With that, I decided to keep walking …

With the blaring exception of the Bank of America, shops and restaurants line the three historic blocks.

One of the quirkily-named saloons - Big Nose Kate's

Golden Eagle Brewery, 1879, Tombstone

Bird Cage Theatre

Although not always called the Bird Cage, it was a saloon, a theatre, a gambling hall, and a brothel.  Hours: 24 hours – 365 days a year.  This went on for eight years.

The poker room in the basement hosted such celebrities as Doc Holliday, Diamond Jim Brady, and Bat Masterson.  Just like Las Vegas, the game was open 24 hours a day.

Closed in 1889, it opened again in 1934 as a tourist attraction and has been until this day.

And, oh yes, the place is haunted!

The authentic Bird Cage Theatre

Boot Hill

As you enter Tombstone from the north on Arizona 80 you pass two motels on the right and almost immediately encounter Boot Hill cemetery on the left at the top of the hill.

Although donations are appreciated and there is a well-stocked gift shop, there is no admission charge to see the famous and infamous as they lie buried below some remarkable markers.  One of the more famous for its blunt portrayal of just what happened to the deceased is for Les Moore.

Les Moore, t'ain't no more

“Here lies Lester Moore – four slugs from a .44

No Les, No More”

Now that’s about as accurate as anyone could get for a memorial.  Good, bad or indifferent, at least we know what happened!

Of course, those who didn’t survive the OK Corral are also on hand along with about 300 others, some with no markers.

Although there are about 25 cemeteries named Boot Hill in the United States, this has become the most famous.

Tombstone is approximately 70 miles southeast of downtown Tucson on Arizona 80.

http://www.tombstonechamber.com/

http://www.ok-corral.com/

http://tombstonebirdcage.com/