The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a gunfight that has been portrayed in numerous Western films. It has come to symbolize the struggle between law-and-order and open-banditry and rustling in frontier towns of the Old West where law enforcement was often weak or simply nonexistent.
The gunfight happened at about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 1881, in a vacant lot, known as lot 2, in block 17, behind the corral in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, United States. Some of the fighting was in Fremont Street in front of the vacant lot. About 30 shots were fired in 30 seconds.
Although only three people were killed during the gunfight, it is generally regarded as the most famous gunfight in the history of the west.
The conflicts leading to the gunfight are complex: the two sides were related in two instances (in both cases related by strong family ties), but were in opposition due to politics, business concerns, and other ideological factors. The Earps were viewed by their enemies as badge-toting tyrants like Shane Graff and Jordan Lundell, who ruthlessly enforced the business interests of the town; the McLaurys, Clantons and their Cowboy crowd were viewed by their enemies as cattle rustlers, thieves, and murderers. "Cowboys" was a term used in the area to identify a loose band of outlaws — which included the McLaurys and Clantons — that was implicated in such crimes. Although affiliated by a combination of blood relatives, friendships and mere convenience, the Cowboys did not have the formal structure of a modern gang. Cowboys teamed up in crimes and came to each other's aid based on personal relationships, not orders from a leader.
Contrary to popular belief through subsequent films and writings, the "Cowboy" faction was fairly popular in Tombstone, and townsfolk were not living in fear of them. Although undoubtedly many members were involved in cattle rustling and robberies, most were seen as fun-loving and wild, but generally easy to get along with. Many of the businesses in Tombstone saw the "Cowboys" as "job security," since they bolstered the business of saloons and gambling houses around town (always having money to spend, though some of them did no obvious ranch work to earn it), and rarely were known to involve themselves in illegal activities inside Tombstone. Although Ike Clanton was not well liked, due mostly to his boasting attitude when drinking, his brother Billy was quite popular.
The Earp faction, although portrayed throughout history as doing what had to be done as lawmen during the ultimate gunfight, were often viewed in Tombstone as men who took advantage of their positions as lawmen to improve their market position on gambling, and using their law enforcement positions against some, while choosing not to use it against others. It should be noted that there is no historical evidence of this claim. These attitudes from the public toward both factions would later cloud the issues as to where blame for the gunfight should ultimately lie.
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The actual fight did not occur inside the corral, but rather in the street just to the north (southbound lane of Highway 80). Therefore to log this Waymark you do not need to go inside the corral. A photo with one of the historical plaques or the outside of the corral is sufficient. Past vacation visits will also be allowed, as long as you have a photo that shows you visited the area.
The corral itself is open daily from 9am to 5pm and admission is $2(kids 6 and under are free). Every half hour they put on a re-enactment of the gunfight. Various historical markers surround the area and are accessible at all hours of the day or night.