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State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help.Places Earth recently encountered closed state parks in Arizona and California is threatening to close all state parks. The story is similar throughout the country. Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please find a worthy local or distant historic site or museum that is in financial danger and donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep these parks open. It will be your loss. Public Service Announcement |
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Tombstone, Arizona
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2009 - 2010.|
Tombstone, Arizona, just another mining town, is one of the best know and famous of the "wild west" towns, best known for the OK Corral and Boot Hill. Tombstone reached its pinnacle and faded within eight short years. Ed Schieffelin was staying at what was then called Camp Huachuca (wa-chu-ka) as part of a scouting expedition against the Chiricahua (chir-i-cow-uh) Apaches. During this time, he would explore the wilderness "looking for rocks." In 1877 he prospected the area that would become Tombstone. Friends warned him that he would only find his own tombstone so he named his first mine The Tombstone. Years later, the shanty town of Goose Flats was renamed Tombstone in memory. Goose Flats was built on the closest level space to the mines. By the mid 1880's Tombstone's population had increased to around 7,500 white male registered voters over 21 years of age. The total population was between 15,000 and 20,000 people. At its peak, it was the fastest growing city between St. Louis and San Francisco. There were over one hundred saloons, numerous restaurants, a large red-light district, an even larger Chinese population, schools, churches, newspapers, and one of the first public swimming pools in Arizona (which is still used today). The most famous theater in town was Schieffelin Hall was where the "respectable" people in town went for entertainment. It opened in June of 1881. It was built by Ed Schieffelin's Brother Al. It is the largest adobe structure in the southwest United States and was built to be used as a theater, recital hall and a meeting place for Tombstone Citizens. It is still in use today. Twice the town was largely destroyed by fires. In June of 1881 a fire, believed to have been started when a cigar ignited a barrel of whiskey at the Arcade Saloon, destroyed over 60 businesses in the downtown area. The town was rebuilt but in May of 1882 another fire destroyed a large portion of the business district. The town was rebuilt again. Tombstone is probably best known for the Gunfight at the OK Corral, which actually happened in a vacant lot on Fremont Street near the Corral. On October 26, 1881, Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp with help from Wyatt's friend Doc Holliday had a 24 second shootout with members of the "Cowboys." Thirty shots later, Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury were mortally wounded. It is controversial and many believe that the McLaurys and the Clantons were innocent. Pumps were installed when water began filling the mines but the mines soon flooded to the 600-foot level and could no longer be worked. Thirty-seven million dollars worth of silver had been taken from the mines by 1886 when Tombstone began its decline. It is estimated that by the early 1930's Tombstone's population dwindled to around 150 people. Today, Tombstone is home to around 1500 year round residents. Now a little touristy, Tombstone, "The Town too Tough to Die," is still a great place to learn of western history and spend an enjoyable day. Either stroll through the town, or eat, shop, and be entertained. Tour Courthouse State Park, the Good Enough Mine, and Boot Hill. Located in the southeast corner of Arizona, it is an easy day trip from Tucson or a short side trip while driving through on the way to or from New Mexico along Interstate 10. From I-10, take Exit 303 at Benson. |
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| Allen Street. | |
 Allen Street. |
 Stage Coach. |
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| O . K. Corral where the famous shoot-out occured between the Earps and Clantons. | |
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| The Bird Cage Theatre was a saloon, theatre, gambling hall, and brothel. It opened on Christmas Day in 1881 and ran 24 hours a day until it closed in 1889. The Bird Cage Theatre had the reputation of being the wildest, wickedest night spot between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast. There are 140 bullet holes in the walls and ceiling to testify to this story. The Bird Cage was named for the cage-like compartments suspended from the ceiling from which the "ladies of the evening" entertained their customers. The song, "She's only a bird in a gilded cage", is believed to have been inspired by these cages. | |
 City Park. |
 Fire Station. |
 Library. |
 Rose Tree, reported to house the largest rose bush. |
 Looks like an old building. |
 Ghost Legends tour. |
 Helldorado Stunt Show. |
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| Nellie Cashman was a colorful and important woman of the west. Nellie, a five foot tall Irish woman and devout Catholic, traveled the mining boomtowns of the west leaving behind her a trail of good deeds. Nellie, also called the "Angel of Tombstone", helped build churches, hospitals, schools, Nellie was born about 1844 and came to America while still a child with her sister, Frances, settling in Boston. Nellei and her sister traveled to San Francisco by way to Washington, DC and Panama. Nellie arrived in Tucson in 1879 where she opened Delmonico's Restaurant but followed news of a silver strike to Tombstone where she opened a food store. She also bought Russ House and opened it as a hotel and restaurant named Nellei Cashman's Hotel. She acquired other properties including a saloon that she would not enter. She sometimes operated the hotel as a free hospital as Nellie continued devote her money to good deeds. When the mines began to close, she traveled to Africa before returning Arizona opening a restaurant in Prescott in 1885. Later she moved to Alaska and opened Delmonico Restaurant there. She traveled Alaska but as her end neared, she entered Saint Joseph's Hospital in Victoria where she died pennyless on October 9,1924 and was placed in a grave that only recently received a marker. | |
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| This restaurant is a tribute to this lady. | |
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This page last updated: Tuesday, 12-Jan-2010 07:47:56 CST
| Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
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This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. My wife sells Gold Canyon products at www.valleygirlcandles.com and I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ... | ||
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This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson. Copyright © 2004 - 2010, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved. Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website. |
| This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com. |
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