Tombstone and the OK Corral
Written: Mar 26 '00 (Updated Mar 26 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The feel of a real Western town....circa 1880
Cons: A ton of tourists will be walking the streets with you
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| Bonies7's Full Review: Arizona |
There are many famous mining towns in America - Cripple Creek, Silverton, and Leadville, Colorado all come to mind. Each was a boom town that for a brief moment was heralded as "the most prosperous city in the West". But because of the magic of one famous gunfight, there is no doubt that Tombstone, Arizona is probably the most recognized mining town in America.
Why does this dusty, off the beaten path town draw tourists to its location in the southeast section of the state? Why would a visitor in Phoenix - with a rare day off - forego the beauty of Sedona for the two hour drive south to Tombstone?
The answer is simple. The magic of television and cinema. Whether you're partial to Kurt Russell's vibrant interpretation - or to that of a more introspective Kevin Costner - there's the simple allure of Marshall Wyatt Earp and the OK Corral. And I think many of us simply want to walk down those same streets and imagine what it was like to let your gun do your talking in the 1880's. And Tombstone....with its elevated wooden walkways and its historical heritage....makes that concept a reality.
Tombstone is located in Cochise County - about an hour's drive off of Interstate 10 down a desolate Route 80. It's easy to imagine the prospectors traversing this land, since civilization has not made any lasting marks on the spartan landscape. The town itself is located amongst the Mule Mountains, and it draws its name from the fact that early miners were told that the only thing people would find - other than unfriendly Apache Indians - would be their own tombstones.
Tombstone also bills itself as "The Town Too Tough to Die", since it has survived a huge boom and an equally huge bust. In fact, the Tombstone that we all have come to know as the quintessential Western town was only at its peak for a half dozen years - from 1878 to 1884. And not surprisingly, that six year period is the exact same time span that the notorious Boothill Graveyard was operating. And when you visit Tombstone, it's well worth the short drive to the slight hill just north of the city. There you will find the graves of the famous and not so famous...including arguably the most famous epitaph of the West.
Surely you've heard of Lester Moore's grave. "Here lies Lester Moore...Four slugs from a 44.....No Les.....No More". And that's the lure of this particular graveyard - the fact that the majority of the inhabitants died with their boots on....without any forewarning. And most died swiftly - including Marshall White, who was killed by the infamous Curly Bill. And in answer to your next query - no, none of the Earp brothers lie here....although their famous antagonist Billy Clanton...killed at the OK Corral Shootout....does lie for eternity at this site. And it's easy to stand on the hillside and imagine the townspeople hurriedly burying their dead on a daily basis on this vista overlooking the city.
The OK Corral is now a for profit business - and that profit is derived by the multitudes of tourists paying the entrance fee ($3.00) to view the site itself. We debated about paying...but finally decided we could not come all this way and not see the exact location. And there are life sized statues showing exactly where each of the shooters stood at the exact instant that the gunfight erupted. In fact - it's a great photo opportunity - you or your significant other posed alongside the statuesque Wyatt Earp. And no - he's a generic Wyatt - who looks like the man himself...not like any of the numerous actors who've portrayed him.
But the movie "Tombstone" is evident wherever you walk. The grand poster of the three Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday is displayed in almost every shop you'll venture into. And yes - this is a walking town. You can walk up to Big Nose Kate's Saloon and see the same bar that the Earps and the Clantons frequented. In fact, it's a lot of fun to stand at the very same bar and order a cold one. There's something about standing there that will give you a brief sense of what it was like in those simpler, more violent times. And the same can be said about the various period clothing stores that adorn Main Street. You can walk in and buy a duster and imagine yourself a real cowboy. And even if you don't actually buy one - it's still fun to see yourself looking like a Western legend.
Is the town full of tourists? Definitely. Is it at times a bit tacky? Affirmative. But it remains a lot of fun to traverse the streets and see the stage coach coming in to town. And although the daily gunfights are all professional actors doing their jobs of entertaining the masses....it's still enjoyable to see the action and smell the gunpowder in the air. If you use your imagination - the tourists fade away and the history comes roaring back.
Summer is the busiest time of the year in Tombstone, and every May the town hosts Wyatt Earp Days - with more elaborate displays of our Western heritage. There is a similar convocation in August at Tombstone's Vigilante Days celebration. And October ends the high season with a long weekend called Hellorado Days. All bring out the locals and tourists in droves.
My recommendation would be to take a day trip to the city some other day.... and spend four hours or so walking the streets. Buy yourself a western belt, or one of those great looking dusters. Have a beer with your boots on in a real, live Tombstone bar that hasn't changed in a hundred years.
And yes, watch the movie Tombstone before you come to the town itself.
Then stand in the OK Corral and draw your imaginary revolver at the tourist standing across from you. Ask yourself if you could stand there - a half dozen paces from your opponent - and not feel nervous. Ask yourself if you could pull a gun and shoot the man whose face was staring at you. Ask yourself if you'd put that badge on when it was offered to you.
You can ask yourself those questions anywhere - but when you're in Tombstone those questions take on a whole different feeling inside of you. And that mental trip will be what resonates for you long after you've returned home.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Bonies7
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Member: Jeff Clow
Location: The Lone Star State
Reviews written: 132
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