Tombstone - Tombstone - TravBuddy

“The Town too Tough to Die” is the way the website starts. Ed Schieffelin was a gold prospector and Indian scout, and had ventured to Camp Huachuca along with a party of soldiers in 1877. Always looking for his pot of gold he ventured out and found silver nearby. But the soldiers teased and made fun of him saying "The only rock you will find out there will be your own tombstone". Thus when he filed his first claim he called it Tombstone. Soon, word got out and the area began to see a large influx of other prospectors. The town of Tombstone was born. Greed, anger, and lawlessness took over the town quickly as it grew to be one of the largest cities west of the Mississippi. But the town had a very short life, as did many of its citizens. The town nearly died after water levels in the mines rose and shut them all down in 1889.

Today, about 2,000 people live here around the single street that was Tombstone. They maintain the “old west” theme and do what they can to make a living by selling souvenirs, having stage coach tours, charging admission fees to as many things as possible and dressing in western garb, although not very authentic, to please the tourists.

I can’t really say that this is a “must see”, unless you are really an old west fan. At least a few of the original buildings have been retained and maintained so we don’t loose them.