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Dodge City, Tombstone or Deadwood?
- Thread starter Southwind
- Start date
Larry (IL)
Well-known member
Heard of all three but I don't think I would go out of my way to visit any of them but world notoriety would have to go to Tombstone, I would think.
Southwind
Well-known member
Interesting. Do you think that is because of the movie?
The Earp's made Tombstone famous with a gun fight. Do you know who the Earp's were before becoming famous in Dodge City? Had the Earp's not become famous in Dodge, would the OK corral gun fight still have made Tombstone famous?
Larry (IL)
Well-known member
I know a little bit about Wyatt, I was also born and raised in Monmouth IL, at one time I lived a couple of blocks away from his birthplace. I now live not far from Peoria IL where he lived in the early 1870's, so there is a lot of Earp history around this area.
Wyatt was almost an unknown until a mostly fictional bio was written about him after his death, sensationalizing his life and then the movies and TV escalated him to stardom level. In reality, from what I understand, he was a vagabond, moving from place to place and doing whatever he could to make a buck from law enforcement to gambling to prostitution. In his later years of life he was better known as a corrupt boxing referee than a lawman or even the OK corral gunfight.
The Earps really didn't have much to do with making the West famous, it is all credited to the mostly fictional book, Wyatt Earp Frontier Marshall by Stuart Lake. TV and the movies knowing a good story when they hear one, took it from there.
Wyatt was almost an unknown until a mostly fictional bio was written about him after his death, sensationalizing his life and then the movies and TV escalated him to stardom level. In reality, from what I understand, he was a vagabond, moving from place to place and doing whatever he could to make a buck from law enforcement to gambling to prostitution. In his later years of life he was better known as a corrupt boxing referee than a lawman or even the OK corral gunfight.
The Earps really didn't have much to do with making the West famous, it is all credited to the mostly fictional book, Wyatt Earp Frontier Marshall by Stuart Lake. TV and the movies knowing a good story when they hear one, took it from there.
Fisher F75 Iowa
New member
Dodge City would be the most fun and have the most to do.
Southwind
Well-known member
Again I find that Interesting, because here in Dodge City there are many first hand accounts of Wyatt's hand in bringing law to a then lawless town. His fame here was that he stood up to the Texas cattleman that brought their longhorns up from Texas to dodge to be shipped off. They were a rowdy bunch by the time they got to dodge and were ready to unload. They did until Wyatt was able to bring them under control.
Larry (IL)
Well-known member
There is no doubt he did his job as a lawman. I don't think he got notorious though until after his death, mostly from the book written about him as a biography but later labeled as historical fiction. My point is we know him as much larger than life because of Hollywood. I have always been interested in Wyatt Earp since I found out he has some history from Monmouth IL.
Here is some interesting reading that I have done since your post:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Earp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp:_Frontier_Marshal
Here is some interesting reading that I have done since your post:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Earp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp:_Frontier_Marshal
Been to Tombstone a few times. Its more or less a tourist trap now a days.
What i found interesting are all the abandoned 'n sealed gold/silver mines in the surrounding area.
I also lived for a while near the Superstiton Mtns. out of Mesa Az., the alleged area of the old Dutchman's mine.
Dam, wish i had a detector back them!!!
What i found interesting are all the abandoned 'n sealed gold/silver mines in the surrounding area.
I also lived for a while near the Superstiton Mtns. out of Mesa Az., the alleged area of the old Dutchman's mine.
Dam, wish i had a detector back them!!!
Being a "history nut" I have heard of all three but have only visited one... Tombstone a couple of times when I lived in Arizona. I would like to visit Dodge City and Deadwood someday before they take me out to feed the clovers. Ha! Each of these towns have had a rich colorful history but you probably hear more about Dodge City and Tombstone. Aside from books and Hollywood...might also be partly due to the length of each towns boom period or how well the reporters back in the day by paper and telegraph got the word out of happenings?
Southwind
Well-known member
I have been pretty surprised at the responses, although I guess I shouldn't be. More people seem to determine fame by the move rather than the history. Really, when it comes to history, Dodge City has no equal. Deadwood was founded in 1976 Tombstone in 1879. Dodge City was founded in 1871. Not a lot of difference in age but Dodge City was famous and widely know back in the 1800's where Tombstone and Deadwood really owe fame to movies. I would have expected this response from the average person but was surprised coming from a group of people who generally know more about real history.
Gold Buddy
Well-known member
Been to Deadwood it is now a gambling town . About a 2.5 hour drive from home .
If I had to choose, I'd say Deadwood...not for the movies or anything....
I used to live out in the Black Hills, (Rockerville) I was the 'ditch boy' for the contractor guy who dug in the municipal water line for Keystone... so that dirt is familiar to me...pans full of ruby garnets and gold!
I would spend some time panning gold or detecting up around Rockerville and Keystone and Hill City...theres a lot of places I used to trap around there before I got into detecting that are calling my name to this day...old places!, abandoned mines!, old 'school sections' and down in the creeks and the like with the AtPro!....good placer gold to be dug...a guy can still go offroad up some logging trails and camp out within reason (quietly and with a small fire, or none at all) and not be hassled..I am unfamiliar with the other two locations you mentioned but thought this was a good enough subject to respond to...
Best money (outside of working the Summer tourists) would be made trapping fur, hunting elk horn cast offs for the belt buckle and knife handle buyers, (or catching Prairie Rattlers and Bull snakes for the International pet sale trade at Angostura Reservior! (Damn things are easy to catch and everywhere!)...good cats and 'yotes and beaver in the Hills to be trapped!..
..In fact, I wiped out the Black Hills beaver in one year and the DNR closed the season! 
Not kidding here, just saying..(the only thing I can brag about truthfully and actually do successfully in my meager Life on this Planet is catch beaver, so do not deprive me of this one boys). (great big Platinum colored beaver that I averaged 80 bucks per, and that was in the mid 80's!)
I can see the locations as plain as day in my head for detecting some spots in the Black Hills..old abandoned gold camps, rail lines, wagon trails etc....I'd even detect the hell out of Sturgis after the Biker rally for fresh drops!...also Pine Ridge Reservation and Hot Springs!..(I know some people) perhaps the Cheyenne river North of Wall, SD. on the abandoned ranches?....its beautiful country...big money out there is in Fossils!...a fellow could do right well on Badlands fossils if a fellow had some sneaky pluck and a buyer...then, if a guy got bored in the Hills, a fellow could always head up to the Custer Battlefield in MT on the Crow Res and make serious bank! It being its own Nation and all, all a fellow needs is the tribal hookup...(Imagine finding Geo Custers bars?) dreaming here of course!. Still, thanks for the inspiration and wonderful thoughts Southwind!.....your friend,
Mud
I used to live out in the Black Hills, (Rockerville) I was the 'ditch boy' for the contractor guy who dug in the municipal water line for Keystone... so that dirt is familiar to me...pans full of ruby garnets and gold!
I would spend some time panning gold or detecting up around Rockerville and Keystone and Hill City...theres a lot of places I used to trap around there before I got into detecting that are calling my name to this day...old places!, abandoned mines!, old 'school sections' and down in the creeks and the like with the AtPro!....good placer gold to be dug...a guy can still go offroad up some logging trails and camp out within reason (quietly and with a small fire, or none at all) and not be hassled..I am unfamiliar with the other two locations you mentioned but thought this was a good enough subject to respond to...Best money (outside of working the Summer tourists) would be made trapping fur, hunting elk horn cast offs for the belt buckle and knife handle buyers, (or catching Prairie Rattlers and Bull snakes for the International pet sale trade at Angostura Reservior! (Damn things are easy to catch and everywhere!)...good cats and 'yotes and beaver in the Hills to be trapped!..
..In fact, I wiped out the Black Hills beaver in one year and the DNR closed the season! Not kidding here, just saying..(the only thing I can brag about truthfully and actually do successfully in my meager Life on this Planet is catch beaver, so do not deprive me of this one boys). (great big Platinum colored beaver that I averaged 80 bucks per, and that was in the mid 80's!) I can see the locations as plain as day in my head for detecting some spots in the Black Hills..old abandoned gold camps, rail lines, wagon trails etc....I'd even detect the hell out of Sturgis after the Biker rally for fresh drops!...also Pine Ridge Reservation and Hot Springs!..(I know some people) perhaps the Cheyenne river North of Wall, SD. on the abandoned ranches?....its beautiful country...big money out there is in Fossils!...a fellow could do right well on Badlands fossils if a fellow had some sneaky pluck and a buyer...then, if a guy got bored in the Hills, a fellow could always head up to the Custer Battlefield in MT on the Crow Res and make serious bank! It being its own Nation and all, all a fellow needs is the tribal hookup...(Imagine finding Geo Custers bars?) dreaming here of course!.
Still, thanks for the inspiration and wonderful thoughts Southwind!.....your friend,Mud
azblackbird
New member
Been to all 3 towns many times. My favorite is Deadwood just for the simple fact that the motorcycle riding, activities, and the scenery blows the other two in the weeds. Tombstone isn't too bad as a destination ride to spend the day. Bisbee is just over the hill and offers more amenities than Tombstone does. As for Dodge City, we used to lease pasture land outside of town for our feeder steers to fatten them up before they headed for the slaughter house. Spent time around the town when I was a youth. Been through several times since. Nothing real exciting to talk about.
Gold Buddy
Well-known member
Best Old West Gunfighter Town for 2015 by True West Magazine.
http://www.chadrad.com/newsstory.cfm?story=36069
http://www.chadrad.com/newsstory.cfm?story=36069
Southwind
Well-known member
Souce: Top ten True Western Towns of 2014
Given to towns that have made an important contribution to preserving their Old West heritage.
1 • DODGE CITY, KANSAS
2 • Durango,Colorado
3 • Dayton, Washington
4 • Buffalo, Wyoming
5 • Fort Smith, Arkansas
6 • Lubbock, Texas
Given to towns that have made an important contribution to preserving their Old West heritage.
1 • DODGE CITY, KANSAS
2 • Durango,Colorado
3 • Dayton, Washington
4 • Buffalo, Wyoming
5 • Fort Smith, Arkansas
6 • Lubbock, Texas
Deadwood is a must see..... Need to check out Mt Moriah Cemetary where Wild Bill, Jane, and Sheriff Bullock are buried, then head
over to the Deadwood Museum. Some of the old Photos of the people in the town and in the bars are amazing.
You just don't want to mess with those people. No one ever smiles and your just as likely to end up pig fodder with one wrong look!
Very cool town!
Zip.
over to the Deadwood Museum. Some of the old Photos of the people in the town and in the bars are amazing.
You just don't want to mess with those people. No one ever smiles and your just as likely to end up pig fodder with one wrong look!
Very cool town!
Zip.