Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Wyatt Earp Fought Here, but the Corral Isn't O.K.
NY Times ^ | August 8, 2005 | ANDREW POLLACK

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: clantongang; docholliday; history; nationalsite; oldwest
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-102 next last
Never been to Tombstone, and this article doesn't draw me there. More Disneyfication of American history.

But I really liked the old picture...never saw it before and thought Freepers would like it too.

1 posted on 08/08/2005 3:21:27 AM PDT by Pharmboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Pharmboy

don't blame Disney - this sort of thing goes back at least as far as Nathaniel Hawthorne's silliness.


2 posted on 08/08/2005 3:25:04 AM PDT by King Prout (and the Clinton Legacy continues: like Herpes, it is a gift that keeps on giving.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pharmboy

Great picture. Thanks. I can't say I care too much one way or the other about this story, though.


3 posted on 08/08/2005 3:25:29 AM PDT by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pharmboy

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.


4 posted on 08/08/2005 3:29:36 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (an enemy of islam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pharmboy
I grew up near Tombstone, in Sierra Vista. Tombstone was always kitschy, even (especially) back in the early 60's when I was a kid. Fake (and occasionally hilarious) headstones at Boot Hill, cheesy cut-outs of the cowboys, cheap toys and baubles from old souvenir stands, crappy food from overpriced burger stands.

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."

5 posted on 08/08/2005 4:13:26 AM PDT by Cincinatus (Omnia relinquit servare Republicam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Ping to you, sweetie -- an interesting story.


6 posted on 08/08/2005 4:16:24 AM PDT by Cincinatus (Omnia relinquit servare Republicam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Joe Boucher
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.

Exactly, and every friggin' story this POS rag reports ought to have the same criterion applied to it.

7 posted on 08/08/2005 4:18:16 AM PDT by sirchtruth (Words Mean Things...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus
Thank you pumpkin. *
8 posted on 08/08/2005 4:20:53 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus
I used to live in Dodge City. Pretty much the same situation.

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.

9 posted on 08/08/2005 4:21:14 AM PDT by yarddog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Pharmboy
A bit of a snooty NY Times article about the old West. It's a neat place, not Disneylandish at all.

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!!!

10 posted on 08/08/2005 4:25:50 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Awww you two...stop it!! ( :-D

Well, thanks for your remarks. I look forward to visiting. I always trust a Freeper more than the Times ( a lot more).

11 posted on 08/08/2005 4:36:18 AM PDT by Pharmboy (There is no positive correlation between the ability to write, act, sing or dance and being right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Pharmboy

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.


12 posted on 08/08/2005 4:38:06 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (Now that taglines are cool, I refuse to have one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pharmboy
While you're in the area stop and see Fort Huachua and their museum

And you can visit a Titan Missle Silo and Museum too

13 posted on 08/08/2005 4:57:29 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

Fort Huachuca


14 posted on 08/08/2005 4:58:08 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Will do--thanks. Although I'm a RevWar buff, the Old West always fascinated me.


15 posted on 08/08/2005 5:03:11 AM PDT by Pharmboy (There is no positive correlation between the ability to write, act, sing or dance and being right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Pharmboy

The old picture is neat. Especially like the 8 (or maybe 16?) horse wagon-train.


16 posted on 08/08/2005 5:05:53 AM PDT by Textide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pharmboy

You'll be a big fan after you get a taste of Arizona.

Don't forget the Grand Canyon just outside of Flagstaff.


17 posted on 08/08/2005 5:06:17 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus

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.


18 posted on 08/08/2005 5:09:46 AM PDT by pepperdog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: Textide

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.


20 posted on 08/08/2005 5:13:05 AM PDT by Pharmboy (There is no positive correlation between the ability to write, act, sing or dance and being right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-102 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson