A Million Little Pieces Of My Mind

In preparation for our upcoming move to Hawaii, Keith and I of course wanted to catch up on the Arizona things we still hadn't seen. I've been to Tombstone several times, but Keith had never been. So we decided to make a day trip of it.

As one approaches Tombstone from the north (as one would if driving from Tucson), Boot Hill is actually the first thing one comes to. It is a privately-owned attraction, but the price is very reasonable.

The cemetery isn't huge by any means; there are just about 250 graves there. Also known as the "Old City Cemetery", the graveyard was used after 1883 only to bury outlaws and a few others.

"Boot Hill" refers to the number of men who died with their boots on. Among a number of pioneer Boot Hill cemeteries in the Old West, Boothill in Tombstone is among the best-known, and it is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.

At the bottom of the northeastern slope of the hill is the Jewish cemetery. In the 1880s, city cemeteries were Christian by default; and non-Christians weren't allowed to be buried there.

Not only were Jews buried there, but also Native Americans. (Even if a Native American had converted to Christianity, the bigoted Christians of that era wouldn't allow non-whites, either.)

Here are the graves of those killed at the Gunfight at O.K. Corral.

The view from the hill is pretty spectacular. People used to imagine the dead would sit by their graves and enjoy the view.

Although people do call Tombstone home, it is primarily a tourist town now, with coach rides, gun fights, and innumerable T-shirt shops.

Plus, the various establishments portrayed in the movies have been restored and are open, though not always for the same type of business as originally.

For me, the best part was the vintage ads and posters.

Keith wanted to see Tombstone, not buy out its stores. So, having seen it (and gone into a few establishments, all of which are gift shops), we got back on our horses and headed into the sunset, back to Phoenix.