Blogs from Tombstone, Arizona, United States, North America

Today was sunny at last, but still chilly. We aimed for Whitewater Draw, an area where thousands of sandhill cranes have been gathering since the late 60s in their migration to Nebraska and parts north. They leave the wetlands for the fields at day break and return around noon, so we knew we didn’t need to rush there. Still, it was going to be a two hour drive…. So we stopped in famous Tombstone for a looksee. My oh my it was so commercial, but would indeed have needed an hour to do it all. Our aim was the 25 min historical overview at 10, but we are out of season and it wouldn’t start till noon. So we bought a ticket to see the OK corral anyway – where metal cut out figures of Wyatt ... read more

Geo: 31.7128, -110.067Tombstone Arizona is the reason you do a road trip in the United States. Tombstone has a colourful, if somewhat violent and lawless, history that has been exaggerated in ways only Hollywood can do. It's the quintessential wild west story of the early days of the taming of the American frontier. Hardened men chasing the dream, unbridled patriotism, rough justice, and a boatload of guns- it just doesn't get any more American than this. The Town Too Tough To Die exists today largely to provide a Disney-like experience for adults looking to clomp along the wooden boardwalks in cowboy boots and hats, working the squinty eyes, striking a match against a three-day growth, and with a toothpick dangling ominously- all the while looking for a chance to pick a fight with Doc Holiday (or ... read more

THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO DIE The plan for today is just a quick trip down the road to a little town called Tombstone. Before we leave the big city though we thought we would make a stop into the local motorcycle shop to see what new toys we could find for the bikes. The decision to stop was triggered by yesterday’s stop at the boneyard for the U.S. air force. I felt that if the Government of the United States could just throw away 4,000 slightly used airplanes worth billions of dollars, we could update the toys we play with too. So at this shop Helli found a new mesh jacket that would keep her cooler in the summer heat and a new pair of gloves. I found the best pair of sun glasses with ... read more

NEWMAN HAYNES CLANTON Newman was known, somewhat derisively, as “Old Man” Clanton. It is a term that may have originated with his cowardly son, Ike. Newman raised a passel of kids over near Port Hueneme in Ventura County, California. He got himself into a land dispute there that was made worse by Ike’s loud mouth and the whole family was advised to leave the area. The older kids settled in other areas of California and were well respected throughout their lives. Newman took the remaining kids over to Arizona and attempted to start up a community called Clantonville on the Gila River near where Maxey was later built. It was pestilent area of the river and the community failed due an outbreak of malaria. He then acquired a ranch on the San Pedro River a few ... read more

BLONDE MOLLIE Blonde Mollie Williams was a Tombstone Prostitute who had taken up a living arrangement with Buckskin Frank Leslie on a ranch belonging to Milt Joyce out near the south end of the Swisshelm Mountains in Cochise County. Things went along smoothly enough for the happy couple as long as Buckskin Frank could manage to stay sober. He was one of those mean drunks and the drunker he was the more treacherous he got. Staying at the ranch helped with his sobriety but he would sometimes get fearful thirsty. Whenever that happened to him a trip to Tombstone was required. On July 11, 1889 Buckskin Frank had just returned home from a week long toot in celebration of the Fourth of July Festivities. Sometimes it takes a thirsty man a whole week to get his ... read more