Ed Schieffelin,
Tombstone's founder |
The name alone is enough to make Tombstone a tourist draw, and it shouldn't come as a surprise that Boothill Graveyard is the town's most popular attraction. Tombstone, however, wasn't named for the markers in its famous cemetery. The name was derived from a warning Ed Schieffelin received before he struck it rich with the "Lucky Cuss" silver lode in 1878. "All you'll ever find is your own tombstone," warned the naysayers, and naming his first claim after their gloomy prediction was Schieffelin's way of thumbing his nose at his detractors after his mine turned out to be a bonanza. The town was founded in 1879, and a year later Schieffelin sold his claims for the tidy sum of $300,000.
 Tombstone Arizona is perhaps most famous for its Gunfight at OK Corral when the Earp brothers, Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan, along with friend Doc Holliday shot it out with the Clanton and McLaury Gang. The fierce gunfight was quick, and when the bullets stopped flying, Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and Frank McLaury lay dead. Billy’s brother Ike Clanton kept his life that day, but was eventually murdered near Springerville Arizona. Virgil and Morgan Earp needed weeks to recover from serious wounds, but Doc Holliday was barely grazed by a bullet. Surprisingly, Wyatt Earp was unscathed.
By differing accounts, Tombstone grew to a peak population of 12,000 – 20,000. The riches derived from mining of silver and gold soon waned when underground water flow filled the mines making it impossible to extract the metal treasures. Cattle ranching supported the businesses in Tombstone but eventually the town of Tombstone became insignificant to the growth of the west and more peaceful times returned.
Today, Tombstone is a tourist destination where about 1500 residents welcome vacationers and visitors into western history. Original buildings still exist with old bullet holes still visible from its rough and tough times. The aura and environment are still reminiscent of days past where visitors can walk the same paths of the bad boys from the 1880s.
Please use the links and resources listed on this page to find more information and buy or sell your Tombstone collectibles and related items.
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