Tombstone - The "Town Too Tough to Die" 02/23/2025
Cost is $30
Tombstone was founded in 1877 by a prospector named Ed Schieffelin. Ed stayed at Camp Huachuca (wa-chu-ka) as part of a scouting expedition against the Chiricahua (chir-i-cow-uh) Apaches. During his time there he would venture out into the wilderness “looking for rocks”, all the while ignoring the warning about the native Apaches. Soldiers at the camp would tell him, “Ed, the only stone you will find out there will be your tombstone”. He did find his stone near Goose Flats and it was Silver. Remembering the warnings from the soldiers at Camp Huachuca and using his sly sense of humor he named his first mine The Tombstone.
Before long word spread about the Arizona silver strike and soon prospectors, cowboys, homesteaders, lawyers, speculators flocked to the area in droves. In 1879 a town site was laid out on the nearest level spot to the mines, known at the time as Goose Flats (also spelled Glats), and was appropriately named “Tombstone” after Ed Schieffelin's first mining claim.
In this field trip you will step back in time and immerse yourself in the rugged charm of Tombstone, where the old west comes to life. Walk the same streets once walked by Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and other legendary figures from the Wild West.
Other than Boot Hill Graveyard, all the activities are located in a 4-block area of Tombstone, so bring comfortable walking shoes.
Our first stop will be at Boot Hill Graveyard to visit more than 250 graves. Buried are outlaws with their victims, suicides, and hangings, legal and otherwise, along with hardy citizens and refined element of Tombstone’s first days.
At 10:20am we will visit the OK Corral. There you will see exhibits, learn about the history of Tombstone, receive a newspaper and witness the reenactment of the “Gunfight at the OK Corral”.
This will be followed by lunch on your own. Then we’ll meet at Tombstone’s Western Town at 12:50 for the 1pm comedy gunfight.
Entrance to the Boot Hill Graveyard, the OK Corral and the Western Town comedy gunfight are included in the field trip fee.
After the comedy gunfight which will be at 2pm you will meet RJ Gibson, a professional photographer. RJ Gibson is a master of the wet plate tintype photographic process, which originated in the 1850s and continued through the 1930s. He has been featured in numerous magazines and motion pictures and in the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives, and the White House Press Corps.
When RJ shoots the wet plate tintype photograph in the field, he develops it immediately in a portable darkroom housed in the back of his 1934 Dodge panel truck. At Tombstone he has a mini lab where he develops his photographs. He will demonstrate the process for us.
If you would like to have your photograph taken in western attire, he has wardrobes available and will take your photograph for $75. You must let Danny Valenzuela, our Field Trip Leader, know if you would like your photograph taken no later than February 20th (see Danny's contact information below). He will process them on-site and you will have them by the end of the day.
After RJ’s demonstration you are free to walk the streets of Tombstone where you can indulge in unique shopping, delicious dining and other shows and tours on your own.
Some interesting exhibits to view on your own as time allows.
Birdcage Theatre Self-Guided Tour ($16.50) Approx 30 min
Wyatts Saloon Theatre -$10
Wyatt Earps Oriental Saloon & Theater - $10
Stagecoach rides--$15
Gunfighter Hall of Fame – Free if open
Tombstone Trolly Tour (20 min) - $15
You are free to stay as long as you wish to enjoy the many experiences of Tombstone.
Meet at the Photography Club upper-level parking lot at 7:15 AM for carpooling, departure at 7:30. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge if you have one. For those carpooling, $20.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.
GVR requires that every person participating in club's field trips sign a one-time waiver absolving GVR of any liability. You will be required to sign the waiver at the Photography Club before the trip departs if you haven’t signed one.
Danny Valenzuela will be our trip leader. Contact Danny at 602-568-5759 or email at dvsundevil@gmail.com if you have any questions.
If you need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Coordinator, Lynn Rozema, at 719-351-5193 or email at lrozema51@gmail.com. We may have people on the wait list to take your place.
No refunds after February 16th, 2025.
Notice:
All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.
The club strives to provide several field trips specifically designed for members with physical limitations.
In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.
The GVR Photography Club is located in the Recreation Village of Santa Rita Springs.