On October 26 through 28, 2006, the Old West town of Tombstone, Arizona celebrates the 125th Anniversary of the historic Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Attendees will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to walk where Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Virgil and Morgan Earp fought the Clantons and McLaurys in the legendary October 26, 1881 gunfight that made Tombstone famous.
On Thursday, October 26, a special reenactment of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral will take place behind the O.K. Corral on the exact spot and time of day (2:30 p.m.) as the original Gunfight. Each day, various confrontations that surrounded the Gunfight, and the Gunfight itself, will be reenacted on the streets of Tombstone.
Tombstone Courthouse State Park will host a rare exhibit of Wyatt Earp artifacts. For the first time, the public will be able to view the only map of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral drawn by Wyatt Earp himself, as well as drawings of Wyatt’s revenge killings of Cowboys Curly Bill Brocious, John Ringo, and Frank Stilwell. Other documents include an arrest warrant signed by Wyatt, a receipt from the O.K. Corral signed by the owner, John Montgomery, and tax receipts signed by Wyatt’s rival, Sheriff Johnny Behan. Photographs on display for the first time include original pictures of Doc Holliday; “Old Man” Clanton; Tombstone’s “surgeon to the gunfighters,” Dr. George Goodfellow; Tombstone’s founder, Ed Schieffelin; Wyatt’s first two wives, Urilla and Mattie; and photos of Geronimo with his Apache warriors taken by Tombstone’s photographer, C.S. Fly.
At noon on Saturday October 28, a funeral procession for the three cowboys killed in the Gunfight–Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, and Billy Clanton–will be reenacted in Tombstone for the first time. Costumed visitors in antique buggies and on foot are invited to follow the horse-drawn hearses down Allen Street and pay their respects.
The Tombstone Repertory Company will perform Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1878 comic operetta, H.M.S. Pinafore, nightly in historic Schieffelin Hall. Wyatt Earp met his third wife, Josie Marcus, when she appeared in Tombstone playing the part of Cousin Hebe. It is rumored that the Earps and Doc Holliday will attend these performances.
125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL
Michael Hickey’s Western History Symposium and Book Exposition will host panel discussions and book signings by well-known Western writers in Schieffelin and the American Legion Halls. Participants include Tombstone’s Historian, Ben Traywick, Dr. Paul Hutton, Bob McCubbin, Lee Silva, and Gary Ledoux. Descendants of the original gunfighters, including Terry “Ike” Clanton and Wyatt Earp, will discuss their famous ancestors.
Additional panel discussions of the Gunfight and the Old West will be held in the Bella Union Opera House with the support of the Tombstone Lions Club. These panels will involve historians and well-known authors such as Bob Boze Bell, editor of True West Magazine, Allen Barra, Professor Steve Lubet, Paul Hutton, Jeff Morey and Robert Palmquist.
As sponsors of the Anniversary Celebration, True West and Wild West magazines and The Tombstone Epitaph newspaper are devoting their October issues to the Gunfight. There will also be a showing of the movie “Tombstone” every evening on Allen Street. Film stars who have played important historical characters in movies involving Tombstone will discuss their roles Saturday afternoon in Schieffelin Hall and will also sign autographs.
On Saturday evening, the celebration will close with an 1880s Grand Costume Ball and Casino Night at the Bella Union Opera House. The evening will offer 1880s dancing, gambling, entertainment, food and drink. Period music will be provided by Tucson’s Old Arizona Brass Band.
This historic Anniversary Celebration of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral brings a unique combination of Wyatt Earp artifacts, knowledgeable historians, and skilled reenactors to “The Town Too Tough to Die.” Join us and be a part of history. The schedule of events can be found at www.okcorralgunfight.com. “You’re a daisy if you do!”
Most events in the town will be free. Regular park fees apply for events in Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park. Regular park fees are $4 per person for ages 14 and up; children aged 13 and younger are free when accompanied by an adult.
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is located on the corner of Toughnut and 3rd Streets, 2 blocks off Highway 80, in Tombstone, Arizona.
For more information call Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park at (520) 457-3311.
For information about Arizona State Parks call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit the website at www.azstateparks.com.
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