Our first destination in 2020 did not go as planned. Our original intent was to explore and hike Chiracahua National Monument. Because of the weather, the roads were closed and the hikes in the upper elevations were icy. So we turned to our alternate plan to visit Tombstone, site of the famous gunfight at the OK Corral.

Tombstone was founded in 1879 and within two years of its founding had a bowling alley, four churches, an ice house, a school, two banks, three newspapers, and an ice cream parlor, alongside 110 saloons, 14 gambling halls, and numerous dance halls and brothels.

Under the surface of a quiet town, tensions were growing into a deadly conflict. The Earp brothers—Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan—as well as Doc Holliday, arrived in December 1879 and mid-1880. The Earps had ongoing conflicts with Cowboys Ike and Billy Clanton and Frank and Tom McLaury. The Cowboys repeatedly threatened the Earps over many months until the conflict escalated into a shootout on October 27, 1881.

The aftermath of the fight was three dead and three wounded. Wyatt Earp was unhurt, Doc Holliday was grazed in the hip by a bullet, Virgil Earp suffered a leg wound, and Morgan Earp was shot through the upper body. Frank and Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton were killed while Ike Clanton ran away at the start of the gunfight

So what did we think of Tombstone, well it was touristy, but a fun way to spend a day. After a few travel days, our next stop is Big Bend National Park.