ROADS OF DISCOVERY

Tombstone is definitely a step back into the history of the Wild West. There’s lots to see here in this little town from a graveyard to stage coaches and even a gunfight reenactment.  So Howdy Partner, let’s take a look . . .

Tombstone is a historic city in Cochise County, Arizona, founded by prospector Ed Schieffelin  in 1877.  It became one of the last boomtowns in the American frontier and is still going on today by tourists like us.

Our First stop was The Visitor Center. The first business in Tombstone was opened in building  by J.B. Allen. In 1879 it was once a store and a bank, then several other businesses. Now the Chamber of Commerce and the Tombstone Visitor’s Center.

This is the original Cochise County/Tombstone Courthouse, which is now a state historic park. It was built in 1882 in the shape of a Greek cross. It is a two-story structure that once housed the offices of the Sheriff, Recorder, Treasurer, Board of Supervisors, Jail, and Courtrooms of Cochise County. Today this 12,000 sq.Ft. Courthouse is a museum that includes the following. . .

This building sure had it’s share of safes. Dave standing by a window to show how big they are.

Notice that on 1884, whomever attended a Washington’s Birthday social and then went to a “hanging” and on the same night a dance. “Hey everyone let’s go watch somebody hanging around.” Scary but true.

This bar was taken from Hafford’s Corner Saloon. This is the saloon where the Earps met to have a drink and make their plans prior to their famous confrontation and gunfight with the Clantons and McLaurys. The bottle of Rye Whiskey was at the bar at the time of the confrontation.

The World’s Largest Rose Bush is a white Lady Banksia that was planted in Tombstone in 1885 . The original root came from Scotland. From a single trunk, it spreads over an arbor that covers over 6,000 square feet.  It was first declared the “world’s largest” in the late 1930’s and continues to grow.  

The canopy of the bush/tree now covers nearly 6,000 feet of space and is elevated from the ground by a series of wooden and steel supports. Each year, after the shed husks are cleaned out from around the base of the tree, the plant blossoms with clusters of small white roses. We didn’t get to see it when the roses were in bloom, but it was incredible and you can’t quite believe the enormous size. It must smell beautiful when it’s in bloom.

After the Rose Tree Museum we headed to the Gunfighter Museum and stayed a couple of hours.

A band was playing and people were dancing in the streets of Tombstone.

Listened to the music while walking the streets of Tombstone. Then stopped for a bit at the Crystal Palace.

Originally known as the Golden Eagle Brewery, this was one of early Tombstone’s saloons. Named after its builder, Benjamin Wehrfritz, the Wehrfritz Building expanded by adding a second story to house the offices for such notables as U.S. Deputy Marshal Virgil Earp, attorney George W. Berry, and Dr. George E. Goodfellow.

Part of the saloon burnt down in the town fire of 1882, but was soon rebuilt in the same spot – and renamed Crystal Palace Saloon.

Time to call it a night, we’ll be back in the morning.