Stagecoach robberies were a common occurrence in the Wild West, disrupting travel and commerce. The desolate landscapes provided ample opportunities for outlaws to ambush unsuspecting travelers. Protecting valuable cargo and passengers was a constant challenge for stagecoach companies. News of a robbery would spread quickly through towns, creating fear and uncertainty. The pursuit of the robbers often led to dramatic chases and confrontations. October 8, 1881, the “Sandy

Snow Yesterday. Light fall. Much blood in the air this afternoon. Ringo and Doc Holliday came nearly having it with pistols and Ben Maynard and Rickabaugh later tried to kick each other's lungs out. Bad time expected with the cowboy leader and D H. I passed both not knowing blood was up. One with hand on breast pocket and the other probably ready. Earps just beyond. Crowded streets and looked like another battle. Police vigilant for once and both disarmed. Brigham in from Ari

I captured this photograph shortly after sunset during my last visit to Tombstone. The Longhorn Restaurant possesses a fascinating history. The Longhorn Restaurant On The Corner of 5th and Allen St. During the construction of the building, amidst heightened tensions between the Earp family and the Cowboys, assassins were concealed within a partially constructed building, ready to carry out an assassination attempt on Virgil Earp . Armed with double-barrel shotguns, Virgil exi

Val Kilmer embodies Doc Holliday with charisma in the 1993 film "Tombstone," dressed in a period-appropriate ensemble complete with a wide-brimmed hat and a red vest. Val Kilmer, renowned for his iconic roles such as Iceman in "Top Gun" and Batman in "Batman Forever," passed away on Tuesday at the age of sixty-five in Los Angeles, California, due to pneumonia. For many fans of western movies, his portrayal of the notorious gunfighter, Doc Holliday in "Tombstone," is considere

James Kehoe was a butcher at Bauer’s meat market and a witness that testified at the Inquest. He testified on November 4, 1881.     On this fourth day of November 1881, on the hearing of the above entitled cause of the examination of Wyatt Earp and J.H. Holliday; James Kehoe, a witness for lawful age, being produced and sworn, deposes and saying as Follows:   James Kehoe, a butcher of Tombstone, says he had business to transact with Thomas McLaury on the 26th of October 1881.

If it was a new firearm, cartridges, cutlery, locksmith, or even a sewing machine, one of the most well-known shops in Tombstone was Spangenberg Gun Shop. George F. Spangenberg proprietor established the shop in 1880. The original location was on 4th street between Allen and Fremont. This gun shop also has an interesting connection to the day of the infamous gunfight.   On October 25, 1881, a day before the “The Gun Fight at the O.K. Coral,” Ike Clanton and Doc Holliday had a

Wind blew over us right well tonight or last night rather. No floor to house – so slept on ground and rats ran about us all night making great racket. Long time before they could be forgotten. Walked to town with Mr. Stanley this A.M. and saw my first monument “meaning notice of location.” Simple pile of stones underneath one of which was the notice of location giving boundaries. Pleasant walk. About 2,000 people claimed for Tombstone. Very lively camp. Fine broad street. Goo

Business partners Andrew Jackson (A.J.) Ritter and William H. Ream moved to the boomtown of Tombstone around June of 1881 in hopes of becoming successful businesspeople. Little did they know, their names would become associated with one of the most famous gunfights in American history.  Shortly after Ritter and Ream moved to Tombstone, they opened an art gallery where they would display and sell fine art. Described in the Tombstone Epitaph as “The finest assortment of picture

On December 28, 1881, around 11:30p.m. U.S. Deputy Marshal Virgil Earp was shot during an assassination attempt. After exiting The Oriental, walking across 5th St. towards the Crystal Palace Saloon. Three assassins hiding in the southeast corner in a second story building under construction (Meyer’s Brothers clothing store and Huachuca Water Company). The assassins all had double-barrel shotguns and shot at Virgil in which witness said they heard four consecutive shots. Ninet

On May 25, 1882 a 2nd major fire ripped through Tombstone. The spark started in the back of Tivoli Saloon in a water closet. This article was published on May 26, 1882 in the Los Angeles Herald. It was sent to the Herald by the Western Union Telegraph.

For years people have mistaken this gentleman in the photo as Wyatt Earp’s friend, Doc Holliday. Though, this man in the photo did live in Tombstone at the same time as Holliday, it is not the infamous gambler. Recently, I heard an interview with a fourth generation Tombstone resident which happens to be a descendent of the man in the photo. It is no other than current Tombstone Mayor, Dusty Escapule. The man in the photo is his great-grandfather, John Escapule. He mentioned

Burt Alvord was born 1876 in Arizona Territory. At the Age of 15 he witness one of the most infamous gunfights of U.S. history when he took on a job as a stable hand at the O.K. Correl. He was present when the lynching of John Heath took place. Later he would go on to serve as a deputy under the famous lawman John Slaughter. But Alvord would fall to heavy drinking, organized a gang, and become an outlaw himself involved in a string of robberies from Arizona into Mexico. Burt

In 1882, Tombstone had their own semi-professional baseball team. They played other teams that were formed by soldiers, miners, mills, and other men who enjoyed the newfound sport. By the late 19th century, baseball was widely recognized as the national sport of the United States. The town of tombstone stood behind the home team. Below are a couple of articles I found regarding the “Tombstone Nine” and the start of the new season.

Campbell & Hatch Saloon and Billiard Parlor was opened in 1881 by entrepreneurs John Campbell and Robert Small “Bob” Hatch. Their saloon would forever be linked to Tombstone history when Morgan Earp was assassinated while playing a game of billiards with owner Bob Hatch. The saloon would burn down in the 1882 fire that destroyed more than half the town and would be one of the first to rebuild. Campbell & Hatch Saloon and Billiard Parlor (Courtesy of the Arizona Historical Soc

George Parsons Photo Taken By C.S. Fly George Whitwell Parsons was a lawyer, banker, miner, and diarist. He relocated to Tombstone, Arizona, where he became acquainted with notorious figures such as the Earps and John Clum. As a diarist, he recorded daily entries in his journal, capturing events like his first encounter with Ed Schieffelin, Tombstone's founder, the Shootout at the O.K. Corral, and Wyatt Earp's "Vendetta Ride." His journal provides insight into everyday life i

Here is a beautiful picture of a beautiful sunset we took last week with clouds rolling in. Later that night, we would see a lot of lightning.

Not too much is known about Little Gertie. But her one night of jealous rage is infamous in Tombstone lore and will forever link her to Tombstone and the Birdcage Theater. Little Gertie who was also known as “Gold Dollar” and had a boyfriend who she had been seeing for some time and he was a gambler named Billy Milgreen. A “Soiled Dove” who worked at the Birdcage Theater named Margarita was very flirtatious and attracted to Milgreen. Gold Dollar had caught wind of this from a

On July 18, 1843 Virgil Walter Earp the older brother Wyatt Earp was born in Hartford, Kentucky. Virgil Walter Earp

On the night of July 10, 1889 Frank Leslie kills a prostitute named Mollie Williams also known at the Bird Cage Theater as “Blond Mollie." After Leslie and his wife of seven years divorced, Leslie who worked at the Cosmopolitan paid regular visits at the Bird Cage. He was known as a gambler and a heavy drinker. Leslie was introduced to “Blond Mollie” and they instantly hit it off. At that time, she had a boyfriend who also promoted her named E.L. Bradshaw. It wasn’t long afte

On July 3, 1888 Mattie Blaylock Wyatt Earp’s second wife dies for a lethal dose of laudanum. The coroner ruled it a suicide. Working as a prostitute in Dodge City she became the common-law wife of Wyatt Earp. She traveled with Wyatt to Tombstone and would remain there until the murder of Morgan Earp and the assassination attempt on Vergil Earp by the Cowboys. Wyatt Earp would send the remaining family to Colton California where his parents lived for their safety. Once the fam