I have been obsessed with old graveyards ever since Ms. McDonald from my high school photography class took us on a field trip to Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta back in 1990. My family even gifted me "222 Cemeteries to see before you die". This one has been on my radar for forever. Tombstone is so far south (Mexican border) that I was unsure I would ever get there. When I first learned of Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona, I knew I had to see it before it became a National Park (it's on the short list). In true travel planning fashion, I had to scope out what else is in the area, and by area I mean anything within 2 hours driving distance. When I saw Tombstone was not very far at all, the idea for this trip skyrocketed to the top of my ever growing, yet dwindling Bucket List.

The cemetery is smaller than I thought it would be and yet I still spend 2 1/2 hours there soaking in every grave stone and reading every story behind the "known" head stones. When you arrive there is a tiny office in which you are greeted by an older woman who does and excellent job of welcoming you and explaining the history behind many of the known and unknown grave sites.

He was found at the bottom of a 60 ft shaft of the Minute mine. He was well dressed, indicating he wasn't a miner. No ID of any kind.

Pneumonia

Scarlet Fever

Found with several bullet wounds in his body.

Shot over the color of his shirt.

Shot by WM McCauley. Two hot tempered ranchers who disagreed over the best way to drive cattle, fast or slow.

2 Brothers hanged, 11/16/1900

Two dance hall gals quarreling over a man, Gold Dollar won.

Claiborne, while drinking, sought to settle a real or fancied wrong by Leslie. This took place in front of the Oriental Saloon where Leslie tended bar.

His horse became frightened and threw him off. This caused a rifle to discharge and badly injure his knee.He laid in camp for several weeks without medical attention and when friends took him to a doctor for amputation it was too late.

Tragic results from the OK Corral battle.

He, with several other men, was ambushed on a cattle drive by Mexicans.

Suicide by Strychnine.

A miner, native of Germany, was found dead in his cabin with four bullet wounds in his body. Suspected of the killing was his partner, with whom he had been quarreling and who had now disappeared.

Killed by Apaches.

Drowned

He was killed while working on the Huachuca water line. A tested pipe was unplugged and a blast of water hurled a jack against his chest.

This happened in front of Yaple's store on Fremont Street.

Found dead early one morning in the rear seat of one of Sandy Bob's stables coaches where he was a blacksmith.

Dye and Harry Curry were wood cutters. On this day they were bringing in a load of hay when they were shot by Indians, then after falling off the wagon were dragged 150 feet.

Innocently bought a stole horse and suffered the consequences.

He was one of the officers sent to arrest Billy Grounds and Zwing Hunt, suspected killers of MR Peel. He died instantly when Hunt shot him in the head.

An old prospector who was fatally injured when a blast went off prematurely.

Moore was a Wells Fargo agent at Naco and had a dispute with a man over a package. Both died.

Suicide by taking Arsenic.

Killed while playing cards.

He was accidentally shot as he started to take Curly Bill's gun.

Guns blazed again in front of the Oriental Saloon where short dealt cards.

He and Ed Williams, who shot him, were miners and had been quarreling while working that day.

One of a band of train robbers, attempted to rob an express car which Milton was guarding. He was critically wounded and his friends left him to die. He was found and brought to Tombstone where he lived long enough to inform on his friends.

Believed to have been shot by Indian Bill.

A miner trying to avoid being crushed as the cage shot upward toward the timbers overhead, jumped and fell 250 feet to the bottom of the shaft.

He fell head first off a cliff.

Boys who drowned in the San Pedro River, one while trying to save the other.  

Grocery store owner who died from ptomaine poisoning.

Died of Leprosy.

I know this seems like a lot, but there are many more pictures and many more stories behind the graves. You just have to see for yourself.