JoDo Chasing Rainbows

In 1877, the city of Tombstone was founded by Ed Schieffelin. At the time, there was a scouting voyage in Tombstone against the Chiricahua Apaches. Ed was on this mission and was staying at Camp Huachuca (later to become Fort Huachuca). Ed was in the bad habit of going out on his own to gather stones. The soldiers would tell him that the only stone he was going to find was his tombstone. Ed did find something. He found silver. Thinking of the soldiers he named his first mine Tombstone.

Word spread quickly and before long homesteaders, cowboys, speculators, prospectors, lawyers, business people and gunmen were headed there. It was originally called Goose Glats, but because it was so close to the mine it was renamed Tombstone in 1879.

Tombstone became the town of 100 saloons, a huge red-light district, newspapers and one of the original Arizona community swimming pools; which is still in use today.

It also had two theaters. Morgan Earp was killed at Scheiefflin Hall. That building is still used today.

Just walking down, the street feels like walking into a western. The reenactments at the OK Corral, the Boothill Graveyard and the Bird Cage Theater made me feel like I could have really fit in during the time.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend a visit, step back in time and enjoy the smell of gunpowder.

Information: www.tombstoneaz.net, Your Tombstone Arizona Travel Guide

This was written by Donna. I just typed it in.

We continue to make our grand tour of Southeast Arizona. Bisbee is a quaint town that is built into a mountain. From Sierra Vista we had to go through Mule Pass which is the tunnel which brings you from one side of the mountain to the other. I was driving. The tunnel was long but there was plenty of traffic so I was not afraid. I could only imagine what it was like when you had to go over the mountain before the tunnel was built. That would have made me nauseous. In fact, I would have had to pull over so that Donna could drive.

Bisbee started off as a mining town. Two former officers who fought in the Civil War but where trained as geologists saw potential when they saw the minerals in the town. They took their bounty off to California where they received enough money to start a mining operation. Mines were active in this town until 1975. Most towns die when their industry leaves. Not Bisbee. Due to cheap land in a beautiful location the town was reborn as a hippy community. Lots of free spirits and artists moved into town creating a wonderful, thriving location.

We started in the mine. I was concerned that I would get claustrophobic. This happened to me before in Nevada. I couldn’t go in due to closing walls. This did not happen this time. I am not sure if it was because of airflow or what. No matter. I was in the mine and enjoying the tour. It was so interesting. You could still see pockets of minerals in the walls.

We also walked around town. Bisbee is built into a hill. Be ready to walk. Some of the sidewalks were the old western type where the sidewalks are built much higher than the street. It is very hilly. We sure got our workout in walking around this town. This is one place I really liked and could see myself setting down. That won’t be anytime too soon. We are having too much fun traveling around and exploring the U.S.

Have you ever been to Bisbee? What did you like best?