Tag: boom towns
The Bird Cage Poker Game that Went On — and On — and On
TOMBSTONE -- The Bird Cage Theater here was originally built as an opera house - The Elite - but it didn't serve in that capacity very long. A short time after it was opened, it was renamed the Bird Cage Theater and it quickly became known across the West as the roughest, bawdiest and most ...Roam Among Wild Burros in Oatman
OATMAN – Tourists flock to this former mining town along historic Route 66 in droves. Situated in the Black Mountains of Mohave County, many come for a taste of the Wild West while others come to feed friendly families of wild burros who’ve staked claim to the land for generations.The Story of Buckey O’Neill: Arizona’s Happy Warrior
Prescott is one of Arizona's most historically-conscious communities. Public-spirited citizens have worked long and hard to keep the rich cultural heritage alive. Standing in front of the old Yavapai County Courthouse is a bronze statue of a soldier on a spirited horse. This monument honors a group of young Arizonans who gallantly served their country ...Curly Bill: The Outlaw King of Old Galeyville
The genesis of Galeyville, on the eastern side of the Chiricahua Mountains, was similar to many other short-lived boom towns in Cochise County. In this case, it all started in 1880 when John Galey arrived from Pennsylvania to promote a silver mine. Since the prospect was only 60 miles, as the crow flies, from Tombstone's ...How Miners Dug Gold in Old Arizona
Back in 1850, when the New Mexico territory was created, the wild, untamed western portion that would become Arizona was sparsely populated by non-Indians. The only white community was Tucson. Word quickly trickled back east about the vast mineral riches. "If ya stumble on a rock, don't cuss it—cash it" or, "If ya wash yer ...Pauline Weaver: The Story of Prescott’s First Citizen
When old Joe Walker, a big, strapping, ex-mountain man, and his party of prospectors arrived at Granite Creek in the Spring of 1863, another old mountain man, Pauline Weaver, was already camped there. The area where the future territorial capital city of Prescott would be founded was the stomping grounds of the Yavapai and Tonto ...The Partial Resurrection of Fairbank in Southern Arizona
In its prime, Fairbank was the site of a hotel, school, mercantile, several houses, stage depots and four railroads. Not bad for a town which, even at the height of its popularity, had only about 500 residents. But those days are gone and Fairbank is now a mere remnant of its glory days as a ...Mining the Past at Castle Dome City
There was a time when Castle Dome City was bigger than Yuma, but those days are long gone. So is most of Castle Dome City. Fortunately, Allen Armstrong and his wife, Stephanie, are collectors, and what they collect is history in the form of old buildings. As a result, Castle Dome City lives on. In a ...Life in Old Boom Towns with Jackass Prospectors
The gold and silver rushes, more than anything else, provided the inspiration for people to give up relative comforts in the East and come west. Opportunity to get rich quick is a uniquely American article of faith and was virtually born in the West. With a single lucky break, one could instantly make more money ...Arizona Place Names (Pt. 2): Origins from Prominent People, Patriotism in Old Arizona
Patriotism was the motivating factor in the naming of one of northern Arizona's most prominent cities. A party of immigrants bound for California camped at the foot of the San Francisco Mountains on July 4, 1876. To honor the nation's centennial, they raised the colors. To celebrate the occasion they called the site Flagstaff. A group ...
