Corbis Sygma
Posted on 08/08/2005 3:21:26 AM PDT by Pharmboy
Corbis Sygma
Few buildings in this 1881 photograph of Tombstone are still standing.
TOMBSTONE, Ariz., Aug. 3 - George Spangenberg sold weapons to both Wyatt Earp and the gang he faced at the O.K. Corral. Today visitors can see the G. F. Spangenberg gun shop - "Est. 1880," according to its sign - standing on Fourth Street.
Well, actually, the shop was established only 16 years ago to cater to tourists and has no connection to the gunsmith whose name it borrowed.
"We don't say it's the same shop," said Jim Newbauer, a manager of the store, which is across the street from where the original stood. Nor does the shop go out of its way to say it isn't.
Just how true to history this famous Old West town should remain is the subject of a modern-day shootout. "The town too tough to die," as Tombstone bills itself, is at risk of losing its designation as a national historic landmark because some say it has been a little too kitschy in embellishing its heritage.
"It's becoming like a Hollywood set instead of an authentic historic Western town," said Sally Alves, a bed-and-breakfast owner.
Dates from the 19th century are painted on buildings erected in the last few decades. Some stores have simulated brick or adobe facades. Some are painted in colors like purple or turquoise that probably were not used in 1880's frontier towns.
The National Park Service, which administers the landmark program, last year listed Tombstone's status as "threatened" because of building alterations "that didn't have any basis in history," said Greg Kendrick, regional manager of the program. Only about 90 of the nation's 2,400 historic landmarks are considered "threatened," mostly because of deterioration, not decoration. Since 1980, 25 have lost their designation.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
But I really liked the old picture...never saw it before and thought Freepers would like it too.
don't blame Disney - this sort of thing goes back at least as far as Nathaniel Hawthorne's silliness.
Great picture. Thanks. I can't say I care too much one way or the other about this story, though.
I don't trust anything the times says about current events, why would I believe anything their sorry lying asses say about history?
Hard to trust a new organization with an agenda.
But you cannot beat the place for atmosphere. It may not be "authentic", but what is nowadays? Go to any Civil War battlefield and you'll see similar historical travesties (e.g., fat Confederate re-enactors -- every account I've ever read tells us that the rebels were bone lean and tough, as one might expect of a guy who marched barefoot over 50 miles a day).
In Tombstone, you can walk the same streets as Wyatt, Virgil, Morgan and Doc did on that day in 1881. Even with the chintzy overlay, a real historical feeling envelops you. It's hard to describe, but it's real -- I've talked to many others who've been there and they get it too.
It's really worth your while to go to Tombstone. After over 100 years of vein dry out, ghost town ambience, and rebirth as a tourist mecca, it really is "The Town Too Tough To Die."
Ping to you, sweetie -- an interesting story.
Exactly, and every friggin' story this POS rag reports ought to have the same criterion applied to it.
I have heard the restoration is pretty close to the original but just doesn't look right to me. I hate that they changed the name of historic Front Street to Wyatt Earp Blvd.
Larry Noyes, appointed this year as chairman of the historic district commission, said that over the years there had been lax enforcement. "Building permits were issued without any inspection at all," he said.
This still is the wild West after all!!!
Well, thanks for your remarks. I look forward to visiting. I always trust a Freeper more than the Times ( a lot more).
Slims first rule of vacationing... never go to a town that has learned to dress up as itself. This includes Santa Fe, Annapolis, and San Francisco.
And you can visit a Titan Missle Silo and Museum too
Fort Huachuca
Will do--thanks. Although I'm a RevWar buff, the Old West always fascinated me.
The old picture is neat. Especially like the 8 (or maybe 16?) horse wagon-train.
You'll be a big fan after you get a taste of Arizona.
Don't forget the Grand Canyon just outside of Flagstaff.
Totally agree with everything you say. We went to Tombstone, arrived in the evening and watched the movie "Wyatt Earp" on the VCR. Next morning walked the streets and really felt the history. Yes, there were lots of kitschy stuff but it was still a wonderful trip. I particularly like the Bird Cage Saloon.
I thought that was the old 20 mule team borax wagon...although I thought that was from the California desert. Ronald Reagan was the host of that show from the 1950s. You may be too young to remember that one.
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