Benson Arizona - Visit to Tombstone

After a quick night in Deming, AZ we head to Benson, AZ and the Escapee Park - Saquaro Co-op Park.  I had thought we would dry camp there a couple of nights at $5 night but when I went online I saw they were running a special for 1st time visitors - $50 for a full hook up for one week plus electric.  I said we're  there!

We decided to go hiking at Comanche Stonghold  I followed directions in the Park brochure and we passed close to Tombstone so we stopped in.

First was Boothill Cemetery 

 I don't know why - they're already dead

 The the leading cause of death was by gunshot

Then there were the Indians

 Oops - but at least they had a sense of humor

 Suicides and Murders

Hard to see but there are dollar bills all over this grave.  It was a Marshall killed in the line of duty.  I guess it is customary for law officers to place money on a fellow law officer's grave.

Very interesting - next stop the Town of Tombstone

The famous OK Corral

The town was pretty quiet - I asked one of the cowboys about that and they said they don't start shooting people until Noon.

You can catch a ride on the Stagecoach

 Costumed actors stroll about town.

 We stepped into the Birdcage Theatre 

After the mid-1880s, when the silver mines had been tapped out, the main main water pump failed, causing mines to flood with deep groundwater, and Tombstone quickly declined.  The owner locked up the Birdcage and walked away.  The Building Was Not Opened Again Until It Was Purchased In 1934, And The New Owners found That Almost Nothing Had Been Disturbed In All Those Years.  They decided to keep it intact as a museum.

 The Bird Cage Theatre operated continuously,
24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
for eight years, from 1881 to 1889.   

There was a poker game that went on that entire time -

 it cost $1,000 to buy into it.

 It is said that 26 people were killed in The Bird Cage during its
those Eight Years .
Over One Hundred and Forty bullet holes remain in the building...  maybe you would meet some of those unfortunates at the ghost walk.

 Tucson grabs a drink at the watering hole.

 All sorts of gift shops

 Just don't try to make an illegal withdrawal here.

 This guy looks like trouble

 There's plenty of horse parking available

 There was a gunfight coming up soon but we left for our hike as we didn't think Tucson 

would appreciate the noise.

Hasta la vista Baby!