The Good, the Bad and the Wild West

Jan 8 – 10

 

Entering Silver mine boomtown

Entering Silver mine boomtown

We left Benson early Thursday morning heading south for about 10 miles reaching the Kartchner Caverns. Unfortunately when we went into the caverns, no purses, camera’s, cell phones, etc. were allowed to go. It was a fascinating tour inside a limestone cave that was only discovered back in 1974 but not open to the public until 1998. It is a living cave with over a 1/2 mile of walking trail. It has 3 air locks as you get into the caves to protect the environment and control the temperature and humidity at all times. The underground tour lasted 1 hour. Best to go to this website if you are interested in some of the sites we saw. http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/index.html

We left the Caverns around 11 and headed about 25 miles further south to the town of Tombstone. Tombstone is a National Historical site, so it’s best to describe the town now as a museum. On Thursday afternoon we just hung out at the park oriented ourselves for the area and future destinations. The day was a wet drizzly day anyway with Friday and Saturday promising better weather.

A “short” history lesson to understand the town. It was founded back in 1879 by a silver prospector. Over a short couple of years many silver sites where found and the “boom” started going from a few hundred people in 1880 to 12-15,000 during the mid 80’s. Along with the silver boom came miners, saloons (110 at it’s peak), gambling, prostitutes and of course outlaws! Silver miners in the day could make $3/twelve hour day. Prostitutes could make $30 in an evening! It has been named the “Town too tough to die” which comes from the fact that half the downtown burned down not once but twice between late 1881 and May 1882. (6 months apart) Both times, it was rebuilt bigger and better.

On Friday we took the parks shuttle into town (less than 1 mile) and began with a Stagecoach tour. Then we headed over to the infamous Birdcage Theatre that holds lots of history which I won’t get into. It was basically a place for theatre with lots of gambling but it was also a popular brothel. See the “birdcages” were local ladies would pull the drapes and “entertain” guests for the night. See pic. We then headed over to the Courthouse for some more history of the area including Chief’s Cochise and Geronimo. Lots of historic artifacts everywhere you went in town. We also toured the Epitaph – the towns newspaper that is still operating. Back home later in the afternoon for a quiet Friday evening.

Saturday’s plan was to go into town mid afternoon, have diner and spend the evening (last shuttle pickup is 9 pm). I met Mary in the morning who is the one in the pic below walking her pony and donkey – with a Colt 45 in her holster! She is quite committed to them since she has to make 2 trips to/from Illinois to bring her RV here and then the horse trailer. (3 days driving each way)

We headed in around 2 pm with the main goal for the day being to see a reenactment of the Gunfight at the OK Corral, some shopping and saloon hopping.  Prior to the gunfight, there was an interesting  25 minute historama. Once into the corral, they had many more artifacts to look at. We also dressed up in some  “period” costume while in town and get a picture taken. (see pic) With that and the shopping out of the way, it was time to check some of the saloons. We decided to go further down the main street (Allen)away from the touristy area and checkout a couple of “local” ones. Crazy Annies was first. Small and quaint and very friendly. We met Crazy Annie and her husband Smokin Joe! An older couple who use to live in Ohio many years ago and have good friends in Georgetown! After some great conversation, we headed over to Johnny Ringo’s (a famous outlaw) and met some more locals and had a homemade pizza for dinner. Back in town, we had to check out the country band at Nosey Kate’s saloon. Nosey Kate was the first prostitute in Tombstone who also started the first brothel. She was also Doc Holliday’s girlfriend for a long time.

That’s it from Tombstone! Sunday morning we’re heading further south toward the Mexican border to stay in Bisbee, AZ.

At our park, some walk their dog while Mary walks her pony and donkey AND that's what she calls them

At our park, some walk their dog while Mary walks her pony and donkey AND that’s what she calls them

Stagecoach tour--tourists!

Stagecoach tour–tourists!

Inside the Birdcage Theatre - note the 14 "Birdcages" along both walls

Inside the Birdcage Theatre – note the 14 “Birdcages” along both walls

Inside Birdcage

Inside Birdcage

Faro table

Faro table

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Boothill Hearst-The Black Moriah-used between 1881 and 1917

Boothill Hearst-The Black Moriah-used between 1881 and 1917

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Basement of the birdcage was used for gambling

Basement of the birdcage was used for gambling

BAsement of Birdcage

BAsement of Birdcage

Zoom in and read the "Shady Lady" ordinance

Zoom in and read the “Shady Lady” ordinance

You had to obtain a license to be a prostitute in Tombstone

You had to obtain a license to be a prostitute in Tombstone

Local paper - still operating

Local paper – still operating

Famed Crystal Palace

Famed Crystal Palace

Courtroom

Courtroom

Behind here is where the infamous gunfight occurred

Behind here is where the infamous gunfight occurred

Outside the infamous Birdcage Theatre

Outside the infamous Birdcage Theatre

Self explanatory

Self explanatory

Courthouse-1882

Courthouse-1882

Gunfight at the OK Corral reenactment

Gunfight at the OK Corral reenactment- Doc Holiday, Wyatt and Virgil Earp

Miss Kitty stepping out

Miss Kitty stepping out

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Miss Kitty entertaining a patron

Miss Kitty entertaining a patron

Inside the Crystal Palace Saloon

Inside the Crystal Palace Saloon

Nightfall on main street Tombstone

Nightfall on main street Tombstone

Saturday night in Tombstone - selfie

Saturday night in Tombstone – selfie

 

3 thoughts on “The Good, the Bad and the Wild West”

  1. Miss Kitty is looking GREAT!
    Did you see real stalactites and stalagmites?
    What a great history lesson you are getting along the way!
    Happy Trails!
    Love Dianne

  2. The stories were great but the pictures priceless. That “Miss Kitty” was quite a girl (from the looks of her)! So glad you are taking advantage of everything that is offered wherever you are! You are champion tourists for sure! Wayne and I are chomping at the bit to get out of “Dodge”! It’s way too old here :-). We’ll leave home early morning on Friday the 30th. Can’t wait!
    I took Richelle and Dan to Ikea (in your neighbourhood) today. For the first time in weeks, the roads were bare and dry and temperatures near 0. It was a safe trip and we thought of you. We talked about how we’re gonna get all of us to Matt & Emily’s Stag and Doe in April. IKEA was PACKED!!!!!
    Cheryl & Scott are coming on Wednesday to spend the night. We’ll talk about you so wait for your ears to burn. Lol
    Stay in touch and have the time of your life! Love you guys xxx ooo

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