Tombstone, Arizona: Walking Through the Real History of Wyatt Earp and the Wild West

Tombstone, Arizona 

I traveled to Tombstone during the winter while van camping on the outskirts of town. When I woke the next morning, I was surprised by just how cold the Arizona desert could become. The rugged drive into Tombstone also left an impression on me. The town sits about 24 miles south of Interstate 10 at Benson, reached by following Arizona Highway 80 through open, mountainous country.

Tombstone Arizona - Dragoon Mountains

As I traveled that isolated stretch of road, I could not help thinking about the miners, settlers, stagecoach passengers and outlaws who crossed this same harsh country during the 1800s. They made the journey without paved highways, dependable vehicles or roadside services. What now feels like a lengthy detour from the interstate would have once been a difficult and sometimes dangerous trip through the Arizona Territory.

Tombstone downtown

When I arrived, Tombstone was nearly vacant. The severe cold had frozen water pipes around town, and most businesses were closed. The Longhorn Restaurant was one of the few places with running water, so that was where I was able to sit down and eat. Although I had not expected to find Tombstone so quiet, walking through the nearly deserted downtown gave me the unusual opportunity to appreciate its historic buildings without the normal crowds.

"Old Tombstone's Cowboy Skillet" breakfast at the Longhorn Restaurant

Later, the museum opened, and it proved well worth the wait. That was where I learned more about Ed Schieffelin, the prospector whose 1877 silver discovery led to the creation of Tombstone. Schieffelin had reportedly been warned that the dangerous country would provide him with nothing but his own tombstone. After discovering silver, he named his mining claim Tombstone, and the growing settlement eventually took the same name.

Tombstone founder - Ed Schieffelin

The discovery transformed the remote area into a booming silver town. Miners, merchants, gamblers, saloonkeepers and fortune seekers poured into Tombstone. Wyatt Earp, his brothers and Doc Holliday later became part of its story, especially after the famous 1881 gunfight associated with the O.K. Corral. Hollywood has focused heavily on the gunfighters, but Tombstone’s survival depended just as much on mining, transportation and access to water.

Allen R. English was Tombstone's best-known attorney, famous for his brilliant legal mind, quick wit, and colorful courtroom antics during the town's silver boom years.

Where did my scissors go? 

One of my favorite exhibits in the museum was a quote from George Parsons, a young businessman whose daily journal became one of the most valuable firsthand accounts of life in Tombstone. His words captured just how wild the booming silver town had become in 1880: "A man will go to the devil pretty fast in Tombstone... Faro, whiskey, and bad women will beat anyone.

Water in a Desert Mining Town

Water was a constant concern in early Tombstone. Drinking water was initially brought from springs north of town and stored in tanks. A more ambitious pipeline was later built to carry spring water from the Huachuca Mountains. Sections of that historic system continued supplying the community long afterward.

Virgil Earp - Tombstone City Marshal and Deputy U.S. Marshal

The lack of dependable water made everyday life difficult and made fires especially dangerous. Major fires swept through Tombstone in 1881 and 1882, destroying large portions of the business district. With too little water available to stop the flames, some buildings had to be dynamited to keep the fire from spreading.

Wyatt Earp, Deputy City Marshal of Tombstone

Ironically, water was scarce above ground but eventually became too plentiful underground. As miners followed the silver veins deeper, they reached the water table at around 520 feet. Powerful pumps were installed to keep the mines operating, but removing the water became increasingly expensive. After a major pumping plant burned and silver prices weakened, many mines could no longer remain profitable. Workers left, businesses closed and Tombstone’s population fell dramatically.

Morgan Earp, Deputy City Marshal of Tombstone

Doc Holliday, Deputy City Marshal of Tombstone

In many ways, water helped determine whether Tombstone would live or die. The town needed it for drinking, cooking, firefighting and supporting thousands of residents, yet underground water helped bring its silver boom to an end.

Big Nose Kate Saloon

The Real Big Nose Kate

Big Nose Kate was also a real person, not merely a character created for Western movies. Born Mary Katherine Horony in Hungary, she became best known as the longtime companion of Doc Holliday. She was remembered as independent, outspoken and unafraid of the rough people and places of the frontier West. The present-day Big Nose Kate’s Saloon is named in her honor, although visitors should view it as a historic-themed attraction rather than assume every story told about her is fully documented.

fashion in those days

My winter visit was much quieter than the Tombstone most tourists experience. I missed the crowds and reenacted gunfights, but I gained something different—the chance to walk its historic streets almost alone and imagine how isolated and unforgiving this landscape must have been during the silver-mining years.

Tombstone drought

For anyone traveling Interstate 10 through southern Arizona, Tombstone is well worth the approximately 24-mile drive from Benson. Arrive when the town is active and you may see staged gunfights, visit the museums, walk Allen Street and stop inside Big Nose Kate’s Saloon. Just remember that the Arizona desert is not always hot. In winter, Tombstone can become surprisingly cold—and, as I discovered, even its water pipes can freeze.

If you'd like to explore Tombstone's history firsthand, you can create a free account at the Internet Archive, a nonprofit digital library. After signing in, you'll be able to borrow and read thousands of historic books online, including The Private Journal of George Whitwell Parsons: The Tombstone Years, 1879–1887.

1867 (Age 17) – A photograph of Big Nose Kate seated beside her sister shortly after arriving in the United States from Hungary. This is generally considered the earliest known image of her and appears in many history books. 

A Visit to Laura Ingalls Wilder's Home in Mansfield, Missouri

Wild Green Onions: How to Identify Them Safely (And Why I Still Grow My Own)

 

How to identify wild green onions

Every spring and early summer, I notice what appear to be wild green onions growing along the creek bed near my home. Even though I grow green onions in my own garden and can easily pick up a bunch at the grocery store, I still think it's an important skill to learn how to recognize edible plants in the wild.

That doesn't mean I harvest every onion-shaped plant I see.

In fact, my personal rule is simple:

If in doubt, throw it out. Never eat a wild plant unless you are 100% certain of its identification.

wild onions

Why I Love Green Onions

Green onions are one of those vegetables I always try to keep on hand. I use them for:

• Scrambled eggs
• Homemade chicken stock
• Potato casseroles
• Soups
• Baked potato toppings
• Fresh salads

One of my favorite potato chip flavors growing up was sour cream and green onion, so they've always been a favorite in our house.

green onions from the grocery store

Don't Throw Away Grocery Store Green Onions

One trick I use is saving the white roots from grocery store green onions.

Simply place the roots in a small glass of water for a few days until new green leaves begin growing. Once they've started producing fresh shoots, I transplant them into a flower pot where they continue growing for weeks. It's an easy way to have fresh onion greens right outside the back door.

One of my favorite money-saving gardening tricks is propagating green onions from the grocery store. I simply place the rooted ends in a glass of water until fresh green shoots appear, then transplant them into a pot for a continuous harvest.

How to identify edible wild onions

How to Identify Wild Green Onions

One of the easiest characteristics to check is the stem.

A true wild onion has:

• ✔ A strong onion or garlic smell when the leaves are crushed
• ✔ Round, hollow leaves (not flat)
• ✔ An underground bulb
• ✔ Round clusters of flowers when in bloom

The onion smell alone is not enough for identification. Always look at several characteristics before deciding whether a plant is edible.

How to tell the difference on what is an onion or not

Beware of Poisonous Look-Alikes

Several poisonous plants can resemble wild onions when they're young, especially death camas, which can be deadly if eaten.

One of the biggest differences is:

• Wild onions smell like onions.
• Poisonous look-alikes do not.

Many toxic plants also have flat, solid leaves instead of the round, hollow leaves found on most wild onions.

I'll include comparison photos below so you can see the differences for yourself.

My onions going to seed - saving seeds to plant more! 

A Skill Worth Learning

Knowing how to identify edible wild plants doesn't mean you have to depend on them every day. For me, it's simply another preparedness skill worth having.

Growing green onions in water

I enjoy growing my own onions and buying them fresh from the grocery store, but if I ever needed to recognize a wild food source, I'd rather have that knowledge than not.

Just remember my favorite rule:

If you're not absolutely certain what you're looking at, don't eat it.

Fresh onions from the garden

 Green onions are especially easy to grow indoors! I talk about it here:

Why Growing Vegetables Indoors Gives Me Peace of Mind

How to preserve those green onions and make your own spices!

DEHYDRATED GREEN ONIONS

Need more ideas on wild edibles from your own backyard? 

How to Make Homemade Dandelion Tea from Your Backyard

I grew a lot of onions in my garden tunnel as well: 

Building My Texas Garden Tunnel: Cattle Panels, Raised Beds & Shade Cloth

A Visit to Laura Ingalls Wilder's Home in Mansfield, Missouri

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum 

If you've ever dreamed of stepping inside the pages of the Little House books, this is one destination that truly brings Laura's story to life.

Growing up, I loved reading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Later, my own children discovered the series, and our family spent years volunteering at a living history museum where they experienced pioneer life firsthand. Visiting Laura's actual home in Mansfield, Missouri, felt like bringing those childhood memories full circle.

Little House on the Prairie TV Show

I had watched documentaries and seen countless photographs over the years, but nothing compares to standing in the home where Laura and Almanzo Wilder actually lived. This isn't a reproduction or a movie set—this is the real farmhouse where Laura spent the final decades of her life, wrote the beloved Little House books, and preserved so many memories of America's pioneer past.

Mansfield, Missouri - where Laura Ingalls lived 

Yes, This Is Laura's Actual Home

One of the questions I receive most often on my YouTube video of the museum is:

"Is this really Laura Ingalls Wilder's house?"

The answer is yes.

This is the farmhouse where Laura and Almanzo Wilder settled after moving to the Ozarks. It was here that they built a life together, worked the land, and where Laura eventually wrote the Little House series that has inspired generations of readers around the world.

Laura Ingalls house in Missouri 

Walking through the rooms is a unique experience because you're seeing the place where history actually happened.

Throughout the home you'll find many of the family's original belongings, including:

• Laura's sewing machine
• The Wilder family Bible
• Papa's fiddle
• Laura's books
• Handmade quilts
• Original furniture
• Personal household items
• Woodworking projects crafted by Almanzo himself

Every room offers another glimpse into everyday life more than a century ago.

Laura's toy tea set 

Laura Ingalls Wilder's collection of quilt pieces in museum

Quilt made by Almanzo's mother (love looking at the scrap fabrics used from old clothes)

The Wilder Family 1870, Almanzo, Laura Ingalls 

Basket Almanzo weaved

Toy dolls representing Laura and Almanzo's two children

Where Laura's sister Carrie lived. 1905 South Dakota where she claimed her land

Caroline and Charles Ingalls 1860

Charles and Caroline Ingall's marriage certificate

Charle's Ingalls fiddle 

Laura Ingall's bible 

Laura's Home Is Surprisingly Comfortable

One thing that surprised me was seeing how comfortable the farmhouse was.

Like many people, I imagined a much simpler cabin. Instead, the home reflects years of hard work and improvement. Laura even enjoyed a relatively modern kitchen for her day, showing how the Wilders slowly built a comfortable life after years of hardship.

It's easy to picture Laura sitting at her desk writing the stories that so many of us grew up reading.

Laura and Almanzo's living room

Piano in the Wilder's house 

Fireplace in the Wilder's home 

The Wilder's clock in the home

Desk in the Wilder's home. Did Laura write from here? 

Lamp that Almanzo Wilder made

Bedroom in Wilder's home

Up close to the Wallpaper in the Wilder's home 

Wooden ceiling

Laura Ingalls Wilder Kitchen in Mansfield, Missouri

Woodstove 

Modern electric stove added years later

Kitchen sink in Wilder's Home 

old calendar kept on kitchen wall 

A closer look at the tile floor in the Wilder's home

A Brief History

Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in 1867 near Pepin, Wisconsin. Her family moved frequently across the American frontier, experiences that later became the basis for her famous Little House books.

In 1894, Laura and Almanzo moved to a rocky farm near Mansfield, Missouri, which they eventually named Rocky Ridge Farm. Although the early years were difficult, they transformed the property into a successful farm.

the route Laura Ingall's traveled 

Years later, encouraged by her daughter Rose Wilder Lane, Laura began writing the stories that would become the beloved Little House series. Those books introduced millions of readers to pioneer life through the eyes of a young girl growing up on the American frontier.

Laura remained at Rocky Ridge Farm for the rest of her life and passed away there in 1957.

Today, both Laura and Almanzo are buried in Mansfield, making the town an especially meaningful destination for readers and history lovers alike.

Laura Ingalls Wilder museum 

More Than a Museum

One of the things I enjoyed most about the museum was how authentic everything felt.

Rather than simply reading information on display panels, you can stand in the very rooms where Laura lived, look out the same windows she looked through, and see the objects her family actually used.

For anyone interested in:

• pioneer history
• homesteading
• living history
• early American farm life
• the Little House books

this museum is well worth the trip.

Laura Ingalls Wilder's final home 

Museum Information

When we visited, the museum offered guided access to the historic home along with museum exhibits featuring many of the Wilder family's original possessions.

Before traveling, I recommend checking the museum's official website for the latest admission prices, seasonal hours, and tour schedules, as these can change throughout the year.

Explore the Area

Mansfield itself is a charming small Missouri town that fits perfectly with a Little House visit.

If you're driving through the Ozarks, you'll also pass through Amish communities where you'll find:

• Amish grocery stores
• Country bakeries
• Handmade furniture
• Quilts
• Crafts
• Local produce

It makes for a wonderful day trip, especially if you enjoy slower travel and discovering small-town America.

My Thoughts

Of all the museums I've visited, this one stands out because it connects so many generations.

As a child, I imagined Laura's adventures while reading her books.

Years later, my own children experienced pioneer life through living history programs.

Standing inside Laura's actual home brought those memories together in a way I hadn't expected.

Seeing her sewing machine, family Bible, Papa's fiddle, handmade quilts, furniture, and personal belongings reminded me that behind every famous story was a real family working hard to build a life.

If you appreciate history, pioneer living, or simply want to visit one of America's most beloved literary landmarks, I believe the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home & Museum in Mansfield, Missouri is well worth adding to your travel list.

    More visuals of the Wilder home from my YouTube - 

     

LAURA INGALLS WILDER - Little House on the Prairie in Mansfield, Missouri               

I'm walking the grounds of Laura's property in video with more footage inside museum and reflecting over the Little House series. 

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