January 18-20, 2014 – Tombstone and Bisbee, AZ

On Saturday morning we headed for Tombstone AZ. That name means many things to many people. It creates images of gunfights and dusty streets, whiskey and Faro games, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and a plethora of old western movie scenes.  Now days it is a major tourist stop.  When you walk down the main street, the locals are dressed in period clothing and are all trying to convince you to visit their attraction.  It is so bad that each block has its own stage coach tour.  So to learn the whole story you would have to ride about 4 of these, at $10 each.  As one vendor said, “Take lots of pictures, they’re the only thing that’s free”. 

Main street, Tombstone AZ

The Bird Cage Theatre was opened on December 26, 1881, by William "Billy" Hutchinson and his wife Lottie. Its name apparently referred to the fourteen "cages" or boxes that were situated on two balconies on either side of the main central hall. These boxes, also referred to as "cribs", had drapes that could be drawn while prostitutes entertained their clients. The main hall contained a stage and orchestra pit at one end where live shows were performed. More than 120 bullet holes are evident throughout the building. It is said to be the site of the longest-running poker game in history. Played continuously twenty-four hours a day for eight years, five months, and three days, legend has it that as much as $10,000,000 changed hands during the marathon game, with the house retaining 10 percent. Some of the participants were Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Diamond Jim Brady, and George Hearst. When ground water began seeping into the mines in the late 1880s the town went bust; the Bird Cage Theatre along with it. The poker game ended and the building was sealed up in 1889.

The Bird Cage Theater

 We toured the Courthouse museum and learned more about the history of Cochise County.

 

 They once hung 5 men at the same time here

 Old time attorneys office

Wayne checking out all the different kinds of barbed wire they used

We left Tombstone and continued onto Bisbee AZ.  If you are a reader, check out J.A. Jance’s series about Joanna Brady.  It is set in Bisbee.

 Our site at Doube Adobe RV Park

Andy is so happy to be allowed outside!!!

 

On Sunday we took the DRZ’s into Bisbee to look around.

 Bisbee is in a very narrow canyon

 Started our day out in true Seattle fashion

 The old Brewery and Stock Exchange Building

This is more our style

 This town has managed to thrive where Tombstone didn't, primarily because its mining industry lasted longer. Bisbee was founded as a copper, gold, and silver mining town in 1880, and named in honor of Judge DeWitt Bisbee, one of the financial backers of the adjacent Copper Queen Mine.  When times got rough around 1950, the owners of the Queen Mine started an open-pit mine which kept them going until 1975. In 1976, a local group opened the Queen Mine Tours, and began marketing to tourists. In the early 1970’s artist’s had begun arriving, adding diversity to the town.  Bisbee still relys on tourism like Tombstone, but without the pushy salesmen of that town.

 We took the Mine Tour.  They start by giving you a raincoat and hard hat, then add a leather belt to which they attach a battery pack and light.  Then you get on a electric powered tram and go into the mine.

 A display depicting one type of miner

 Our tour guide describing one of the jobs in the mine

Miner's portta potty

 We road around town, not all roads are paved

Brewery Avenue

 

After riding around town we headed back to the RV park to watch the Seahawks win the championship and a trip to the Superbowl!!!  Go Hawks!

I love the joy on Coach Carroll's face

Monday is a day to get stuff done.  Wayne is working on getting solar power to the trailer so he can have 12v lights when not pugged in and I am working on computer stuff.  I like to have the next riding trip planned for the GPS and get my blog up to date.  Tuesday we head to New Mexico….