Okay, O.K. - we know that this corral is in Tombstone, not Tucson, but the short drive will reveal the site of a classic Wild West movie scene that actually happened. As a reminder, it was the notorious lawmen Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday vs. the equally notorious Cowboy gang. Hint: the law won.
We don’t think we’re spoiling the surprise here, since all of this happened in 1881. But once you see the corral, Fremont Street and Fly’s boarding house it seems like it was just yesterday. You almost expect to see the Earp brothers, Holliday, Billy and Ike Clanton, Tom and Frank McClaury and Billy Claiborne coming around the corner ready for the fast draw.
Which you might. Recreations of the famous shootout take place every day on the street and during festivals at Helldorado Outdoor Amphitheater, and life-sized replicas of the participants stand in the very spots where they stood during the battle. For a dose of sheer harsh reality, you can even visit the Boot Hill Graveyard where the unfortunate Billy Clanton and both McClauries ended up.
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Things to know:
Region: Arizona Old West
Related activities: Visit the Tombstone Epitaph, a newspaper museum featuring period printing equipment and the actual pages covering the events of October 26, 1881.
Fun facts: Tombstone is also the home of the world's largest rosebush, planted in 1885.
Getting there: Tombstone is approximately a one-hour drive south of Tucson. From Tucson take Interstate 10 south to Benson (48 miles to Benson), then take State Highway 80 23 miles to Tombstone.
Photos courtesy of flicker - Amy and flickr - Antydiluvian.
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