Tombstone, Arizona; Spooky old graveyard houses many lawless cowboys from the past.
Back in the 1800's from around 1877 to 1884, this creepy graveyard was originally called the "Tombstone Cemetery". Later on, the name was changed to "Boot Hill Graveyard" . The reason for the change was, so many of the burials were of lawless type men, dying with their boots on.
The graveyard sits desolate, barren and creepy, close to the town of Tombstone itself.
Walking through the graves sends shivers down one's spine as over 230 old graves exists. It exists as a true testament to the lawless , unspeakable crimes that went on back in the 1800's.
The "O.K. Corral had that infamous and fatal gun fight, that lasted a total 30-seconds.
On October 26, 1881, the gunfight took place at about 3:00 p.m. The famous gunfight actually began on land approximately seven doors down from Fremont Street. It started at the rear entrance to the O.K. Corral, leaving only "3" gun slingers dead. Frank and Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton were killed instantly . Billy Claiborne and Ike Clanton, ran from the fight unharmed. Doc Holliday, Morgan Earp, Virgil Earp, survived the shooting exchange and were wounded. The "Boot Hill Graveyard" houses the three killed during that short lived foolish , yet famous, gunfight.
Other outlaws, prospectors, lawmen, and prostitutes are all buried in the graveyard. Men that were hanged by rope for lawless crimes such as the Bisbee Massacre, also inhabit this eerie place.
The tombstones in the past deteriorated or were vandalized severely. It was not until the 1940's to recent years that the tombstones have somewhat been restored. Many of the names of those deceased are just nicknames as no one knew their name at time of burial.
Apparently as legend goes, the dead that lie there are somewhat restless.. Was it their untimely, horrible deaths that leave them as restless spirits?
Often reports of strange graveyard lights and spooky unidentifiable noises coming from the old graveyard have been reported by visitors
Some visitors have actually captured what appears to be a graveyard apparition in a photo.
One of O.K. corrals victims of the gunfight, Billy Clanton, is said to roam the road leading from the cemetery back to the town of Tombstone.
Today it is one of Tombstone's most popular tourist attractions.
The Boot Hill Graveyard is located just north of Tombstone, on Highway 80, if you care to investigate it or visit.
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