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How Did Tombstone, Arizona Have Its Own Oyster House In The Middle Of The Wild West Desert?
The mecca of the Wild West was also a destination of high society for a time
The Wild West was a relatively short period (1865–1895) during the 19th century where rapid westward expansion made for sometimes chaotic and lawless times on the frontier. No one place personified the era more than Tombstone, Arizona, the site of the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral (The Earp brothers, Doc Holliday and The Cowboys). Although its reputation from this period of time may be one of gun fighting, dust and coarseness, the community actually had surprising elements of refinement, including its very own oyster bar right in the middle of the desert.
Tombstone was founded in 1877 by Ed Schieffelin, a prospector who discovered silver in the area, leading to a clamber of others to find similar success. The town’s name came from a warning the miner received after he first arrived from soldiers at nearby Camp Huachuca, who told him he would only find his tombstone in the dangerous Apache territory. Instead, he found an abundance of silver, and he named his mine “The Tombstone” as a cheeky reminder.
Like other similar strikes, word of Schieffelin’s silver discovery spread quickly attracting a crowd of…
