Tag: Arizona

Arizona, located in the southwestern region of the United States, is renowned for its diverse landscapes and cultural richness. Home to iconic natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona offers a dramatic and varied terrain that ranges from arid deserts to pine-covered mountains. The state’s climate is typically characterized by hot summers and mild winters, with the southern parts being desert-like while the northern regions experience a more temperate climate. Arizona is also rich in Native American history, with numerous tribes such as the Navajo, Hopi, and Apache having deep roots in the region. The state’s cities, including Phoenix and Tucson, blend modern urban life with a strong appreciation for the natural environment and cultural heritage. Arizona’s economy thrives on tourism, technology, and agriculture, making it a dynamic and multifaceted state.

Colorado Steamships

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The Colorado River, flowing from the Rocky Mountains through the arid Southwest to the Gulf of California, was a challenging waterway—shallow, swift, and prone to sandbars, floods, and shifting channels. Despite these obstacles, steam-powered vessels played a vital role in its navigation from the mid-19th century until the early 20th century. Primarily operating on the lower Colorado River (from the Gulf of California upstream to areas near modern-day Nevada), steamboats transported military supplies, miners, settlers, and freight, fueling the development of Arizona, California, Nevada, and parts of Mexico. They were the most economical means of moving goods across the desert until railroads supplanted them.

View showing steamboat Cochan on the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona in 1900 - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
View showing steamboat Cochan on the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona in 1900 – U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Early Attempts and the Birth of Steam Navigation (1850–1854)

The need for reliable transport arose after the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), when the U.S. Army established Fort Yuma at the confluence of the Gila and Colorado Rivers to protect emigrants heading to California during the Gold Rush. Supplying the isolated fort overland from San Diego cost up to $500 per ton. River transport from the Gulf of California offered a cheaper alternative.

Initial efforts used schooners and barges. In 1850–1851, the schooner Invincible and longboats reached only partway upriver. Lieutenant George Derby recommended shallow-draft sternwheel steamboats.

The first successful steamboat was the small iron-hulled Uncle Sam, a 65-foot tug with a 20-horsepower engine, assembled at the river’s mouth in 1852 by Captain James Turnbull. It reached Fort Yuma in December 1852 but later proved unreliable and sank.

In 1853–1854, George Alonzo Johnson, partnering with Benjamin M. Hartshorne and others, formed George A. Johnson & Company. They brought parts for the sidewheeler General Jesup from San Francisco, assembling it at the river mouth. The General Jesup carried 50 tons of cargo to Fort Yuma in five days, reducing costs to $75 per ton and proving commercial viability.

Mohave II at Yuma, Arizona, with Sunday school group embarked, 1876 - Unknown author - MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944
Mohave II at Yuma, Arizona, with Sunday school group embarked, 1876 – Unknown author – MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944

Expansion and Exploration (1855–1860s)

Johnson’s company built wood yards staffed by Cocopah Indians and added vessels like the sternwheeler Colorado (1855, captained by Isaac Polhamus) and others. By the late 1850s, steamboats regularly serviced Fort Yuma and emerging mining camps.

Exploration pushed limits:

  • In 1857, Johnson took the General Jesup to El Dorado Canyon (near Las Vegas).
  • The U.S. Army’s 1857–1858 expedition, led by Lt. Joseph Christmas Ives, used the 54-foot iron steamboat Explorer (built in Philadelphia and reassembled on the river). It reached Black Canyon but struck a rock; Ives deemed further navigation impractical at low water. Johnson later bought the Explorer and converted it to a barge.

Mormon leader Brigham Young sought a sea-to-Utah route via the Colorado. In 1864–1866, Anson Call established Callville (near modern Lake Mead) as a potential port. Steamboats like the Esmeralda reached it in 1866.

Boom Years: Mining Rushes and Competition (1860s–1870s)

The 1862 Colorado River gold rush near La Paz (Arizona) and later discoveries in Eldorado Canyon and elsewhere created explosive demand. Ports like Ehrenberg, Hardyville, and Aubrey emerged. Steamboats hauled machinery, food, and ore, often towing barges for extra capacity.

George A. Johnson & Company dominated initially but faced rivals like Thomas Trueworthy’s Union Line in the 1860s. Competition ended when Johnson’s company absorbed opponents. In 1869, it reorganized as the Colorado Steam Navigation Company (C.S.N.Co.), expanding the fleet with vessels like Cocopah, Mohave, and larger ones like the 149-foot Mohave II (1876) and Gila.

Key captains included Isaac Polhamus (“Dean of the Colorado River”) and later Jack Mellon. Ocean steamships connected San Francisco to the river mouth at Port Isabel, feeding river traffic.

Colorado II in a tidal dry dock in the shipyard above Port Isabel, Sonora - MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944
Colorado II in a tidal dry dock in the shipyard above Port Isabel, Sonora – MacMullen, Jerry, Paddle-Wheel Days in California, Stanford University Press, 1944

Peak and Decline (1870s–1900s)

The 1870s marked the peak, with scheduled services and luxurious boats offering passenger excursions. The C.S.N.Co. monopolized trade, profiting immensely from military contracts, mining,, and Mormon supplies.

Railroads spelled doom. The Southern Pacific reached Yuma in 1877, bridging the river. That year, Johnson and partners sold the C.S.N.Co. to Southern Pacific interests for a massive profit. Steamboats continued but focused on upper reaches and local freight.

Later vessels included the Cochan (1900, the last major sternwheeler) and Searchlight (1903–1909), hauling ore from Nevada mines.

End of an Era (1909–1916)

The 1909 completion of Laguna Dam (for irrigation) blocked navigation. Final operations involved limited freight and dam-related work. The last commercial steamboat, Searchlight, retired around 1916.

Attempts on the upper Colorado (e.g., Glen Canyon, Green River) were short-lived due to rapids and low water.

Legacy

For over 50 years, Colorado River steamboats connected isolated frontiers, enabling settlement and extraction in a harsh desert. They carried millions in gold, supplied forts and mines, and linked the Pacific to inland territories. Though overshadowed by railroads and dams, their era transformed the Southwest, leaving behind ghost towns, historic sites like Yuma Quartermaster Depot, and a romantic chapter in Western transportation history.

Colorado River Steamship Landings

The steamboat Mohave departing the landing in El Dorado Canyon.
The steamboat Mohave departing the landing in El Dorado Canyon.
Potholes, California, From 185918 mi (29 km)
La Laguna, Arizona Territory, 1860-186320 mi (32 km)
Castle Dome Landing, Arizona Territory, 1863-188435 mi (56 km)
Eureka, Arizona Territory, 1863-1870s45 mi (72 km)
Williamsport, Arizona Territory, 1863-1870s47 mi (76 km)
Picacho, California, 1862-191048 mi (77 km)
Nortons Landing, Arizona Territory, 1882-189452 mi (84 km)
Clip, Arizona Territory, 1882-188870 mi (110 km)
California Camp, California72 mi (116 km)
Camp Gaston, California, 1859-186780 mi (130 km)
Drift Desert, Arizona Territory102 mi (164 km)
Bradshaw’s Ferry, California, 1862-1884126 mi (203 km)
Mineral City, Arizona Territory, 1864-1866126 mi (203 km)
Ehrenberg, Arizona Territory, from 1866126.5 mi (203.6 km)
Olive City, Arizona Territory, 1862-1866127 mi (204 km)
La Paz, Arizona Territory, 1862-1870131 mi (211 km)
Parker’s Landing, Arizona Territory, 1864-1905
Camp Colorado, Arizona, 1864-1869		200 mi (320 km)
Parker, Arizona Territory, from 1908203 mi (327 km)
Empire Flat, Arizona Territory, 1866-1905210 mi (340 km)
Bill Williams River, Arizona220 mi (350 km)
Aubrey City, Arizona Territory, 1862-1888220 mi (350 km)
Chimehuevis Landing, California240 mi (390 km)
Liverpool Landing, Arizona Territory242 mi (389 km)
Grand Turn, Arizona/California257 mi (414 km)
The Needles, Mohave Mountains, Arizona263 mi (423 km)
Mellen, Arizona Territory 1890 – 1909267 mi (430 km)
Eastbridge, Arizona Territory 1883 – 1890279 mi (449 km)
Needles, California, from 1883282 mi (454 km)
Iretaba City, Arizona Territory, 1864298 mi (480 km)
Fort Mohave, Arizona Territory, 1859-1890
Beale’s Crossing 1858 –		300 mi (480 km)
Mohave City, Arizona Territory, 1864-1869305 mi (491 km)
Hardyville, Arizona Territory, 1864-1893
Low Water Head of Navigation 1864-1881		310 mi (500 km)
Camp Alexander, Arizona Territory, 1867312 mi (502 km)
Polhamus Landing, Arizona Territory
Low Water Head of Navigation 1881-1882		315 mi (507 km)
Pyramid Canyon, Arizona/Nevada316 mi (509 km)
Cottonwood Island, Nevada
Cottonwood Valley		339 mi (546 km)
Quartette, Nevada, 1900-1906342 mi (550 km)
Murphyville, Arizona Territory, 1891353 mi (568 km)
Eldorado Canyon, Nevada, 1857-1905
Colorado City, Nevada 1861-1905		365 mi (587 km)
Explorer’s Rock, Black Canyon of the Colorado, Mouth, Arizona/Nevada369 mi (594 km)
Roaring Rapids, Black Canyon of the Colorado, Arizona/Nevada375 mi (604 km)
Ringbolt Rapids, Black Canyon of the Colorado, Arizona/Nevada387 mi (623 km)
Fortification Rock, Nevada
High Water Head of Navigation, 1858-1866		400 mi (640 km)
Las Vegas Wash, Nevada402 mi (647 km)
Callville, Nevada, 1864-1869
High Water Head of Navigation 1866-78		408 mi (657 km)
Boulder Canyon, Mouth, Arizona/Nevada409 mi (658 km)
Stone’s Ferry, Nevada 1866-1876438 mi (705 km)
Virgin River, Nevada440 mi (710 km)
Bonelli’s Ferry, 1876-1935
Rioville, Nevada 1869-1906
High Water Head of Navigation from 1879 to 1887		440 mi (710 km
Soruce: Wikipedia

Colorado River Steamship Landings

Steamboats on the Colorado River

Gila Steamboat at the Yuma Crossing Arizona, 1873.
Gila Steamboat at the Yuma Crossing Arizona, 1873.
NameTypeTonsLengthBeamLaunchedDisposition
Black EagleScrew40 feet6 feetGreen River, Utah
June 1907		Exploded 1907
Charles H. SpencerStern92.5 feet25 feetWarm Creek, Arizona
February 1912		Abandoned
Spring 1912
Cliff DwellerStern70 feet20 feetHalverson’s Utah
November 1905		To Salt Lake
April 1907
CochanStern234135 feet31 feetYuma, Arizona
November 1899		Dismantled
Spring 1910
Cocopah IStern140 feet29 feetGridiron, Mexico
August 1859		Dismantled
1867
Cocopah IIStern231147.5 feet28 feetYuma, Arizona
March 1867		Dismantled
1881
Colorado IStern120 feetEstuary, Mexico
December 1855		Dismantled
August 1862
Colorado IIStern179145 feet29 feetYuma, Arizona
May 1862		Dismantled
August 1882
CometStern60 feet20 feetGreen River, Wyoming
July 1908		Abandoned
1908
EsmeraldaStern93 feet13 feetRobinson’s, Mexico
December 1857		Dismantled
1868
General JesupSide104 feet17 feetEstuary, Mexico
January, 1864		Engine Removed
1858
General RosalesSternYuma, Arizona
July 1878		Dismantled
1859
GilaStern236149 feet31 feetPort Isabel, Mexico
January 1873		Rebuilt as Cochan
1889
Major PowellScrew35 feet8 feetGreen River, Utah
August 1891		Dismantled
1894
Mohave IStern193135 feet28 feetEstuary, Mexico
May 1864		Dismantled
1875
Mohave IIStern188149.5 feet31.5 feetPort Isabel, Mexico
February 1876		Dismantled
Jan 1900
Nina TildenStern12097 feet22 feetSan Francisco, California
July 1864		Wrecked
September 1874
RettaStern36 feet6 feetYuma, Arizona
1900		Sunk
Feburary, 1905
St. VallierStern9274 feet17 feetNeedles, California
Early 1899		Sunk
March 1909
San JorgeScrew38 feet9 feetYuma, Arizona
June 1901		To Gulf
July 1901
SearchlightStern9891 feet18feetNeedles, California
December 1902		Lost
October 1916
Uncle SamSide4065 feet16 feetEstuary, Mexico
November 1852		Sunk
May 1853
UndineStern60 feet10 feetGreen River, Utah
November 1901		Wrecked
May 1902
Steamboats on the Colorado River 1852-1916 – Appendix A

Resources

Big Bug Arizona

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Tucked into the rugged folds of the Bradshaw Mountains in Yavapai County, Arizona, approximately 12 miles southeast of Prescott, lies the ghost town of Big Bug—a relic of the frontier era named for the walnut-sized beetles that swarmed its namesake creek. Established in 1862, Big Bug emerged during the American Civil War as a mining camp spurred by the discovery of gold along Big Bug Creek. Its history is a tapestry of prospecting fervor, Apache conflicts, and the transient prosperity typical of Arizona’s mining boomtowns. This report chronicles Big Bug’s rise and fall, its interconnections with neighboring towns, its ties to regional train stops and mines, and the colorful figures who shaped its legacy, concluding with its current status as a faded vestige of Arizona’s past.

The mining smelters in Big Bug, Arizona, circa 1900 - E.M. Jenning - Sharlot Hall Museum Archives
The mining smelters in Big Bug, Arizona, circa 1900 – E.M. Jenning – Sharlot Hall Museum Archives

Founding and Early Development (1862–1870s)

Big Bug’s story begins with Theodore Boggs, a prospector whose lineage tied him to American pioneering royalty—his mother was a granddaughter of Daniel Boone, and his father, Lilburn Boggs, was a former Missouri governor infamous for his role in the Missouri Mormon War. At age 10, Boggs traveled west with the ill-fated Donner Party, later settling in California before arriving in Arizona in 1862. He staked a claim along Big Bug Creek, where gold deposits—both placer and lode—promised wealth. The creek, flowing through the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains at elevations between 4,500 and 7,000 feet, was named for its abundant, large insects, a moniker that stuck as the settlement grew.

By late 1862, Boggs and three other miners were working the claim, constructing a rudimentary mine and a few essential buildings. The camp, initially a cluster of tents and dugouts, attracted prospectors drawn by tales of gold in the Agua Fria River basin, first discovered in 1863 by Joseph Walker’s party. Within months, Apache raids tested the fledgling settlement. In the “Battle of Big Bug,” a nighttime attack saw Apaches attempt to crush Boggs’ dugout with boulders rolled from the hills above. Alerted by their dog’s cries, Boggs and his companions fended off the assault with muskets fired through portholes, a skirmish emblematic of the region’s volatile early years.

The 1870s saw Big Bug coalesce into a proper town. By 1879, a post office was established, initially operating out of Boggs’ residence, with Miss Dawson, the assistant postmistress, delivering mail on horseback across the mining camp and surrounding areas. The population hovered around 100, supported by placer mining along the creek, where large boulders had preserved gold deposits inaccessible to early heavy machinery.

Boom Years and Community Life (1880s–1890s)

Big Bug reached its zenith in the 1880s and 1890s, with a peak population of 115 in 1890. The town buzzed with activity, its dirt streets lined with wooden structures: saloons run by proprietors like Kingsley and Oliver, Mead and McMahon, and Johnson and Trenberth; general stores owned by R.F. Burney, Garrett and Avery, and Mrs. Trenberth (assisted by her daughter, Fannie); and barbershops operated by Dan Reams and Mr. Vasser. A schoolhouse hosted community events, including a lively New Year’s Eve dance in 1898, as reported by the Arizona Journal-Miner, which described Big Bug as a “new and growing” camp with prospectors flocking to its developed mines.

The Big Bug Mining District, encompassing the town, was a hub of activity, producing gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. Key mines included the Boggs Mine (Cu-Zn-Au-Ag-Pb), reopened in 1943–1945, and the Big Bug Mine (also known as Burzog, Old Miner, or Black Hills Mine), a copper-gold-silver operation active from 1918 to 1944. The Big Bug Placers, alluvial deposits along the creek, yielded an estimated 50,000 troy ounces of gold, with 17,000 ounces recorded, particularly during dredging in the 1930s and 1940s. The district’s geology, featuring Yavapai schist intruded by diorite and granite, supported both placer and lode deposits, with production valued at $17 million (1901–1931 prices), including $4 million in gold.

Big Bug’s vibrancy was tempered by violence. In 1901, miner Bruce Profitt was fatally shot near his cabin, allegedly by Thomas Powias, in a crime that shocked the community. Profitt, described as a quiet, law-abiding father of two, was ambushed while walking to work, his death prompting a swift investigation by Sheriff Munds and deputies Lon Young and Jack Nelson. Such incidents underscored the rough edge of frontier life, where disputes over claims or personal grudges could turn deadly.

Relationships with Surrounding Towns and Train Stops

Big Bug was intricately linked to nearby towns and transportation networks. Mayer, 3 miles southwest, was a key neighbor, founded by Joe Mayer, who owned interests in mines like the Henrietta, Butternut, and French Lilly. Mayer served as a rail hub on the Santa Fe, Prescott, and Phoenix Railway, with a station facilitating ore transport and passenger travel, connecting Big Bug to broader markets. The Blue Bell Mine, near Mayer, was another significant producer in the Big Bug Mining District, extracting gold, silver, and copper.

Humboldt (now Dewey-Humboldt), 15 miles east of Prescott, was a smelting center founded in 1905, processing ores from Big Bug and other district mines via its Arizona Smelting Co. facility. Humboldt’s railroad depot on the Santa Fe line was crucial for shipping refined metals, and its population of 1,000 supported amenities like saloons, hotels, and an ice cream parlor, making it a regional hub. The Iron King Mine near Humboldt, a major lead and zinc producer during World War II, complemented Big Bug’s output, though it later became an EPA Superfund site due to environmental contamination.

Prescott, the county seat 12 miles northwest, was Big Bug’s legal and commercial anchor. Miners relied on Prescott’s lawyers, assay offices, and suppliers, though litigation, as seen in nearby Alexandra’s Peck Mine, often enriched attorneys more than prospectors. Stage routes, like the Prescott to Phoenix Black Canyon Stage, connected Big Bug to Prescott and stops like Goddard (a stage stop near Black Canyon City), enhancing regional mobility.

Alexandra, high in the Bradshaw Mountains, was a short-lived rival mining camp, named for Mrs. T.M. Alexander and home to the Peck Mine. Its isolation and legal disputes led to its demise by 1896, with remnants destroyed by the 2012 Gladiator Fire. Gillett, on the Black Canyon Stage route, survived longer due to its strategic location and association with figures like Jack Swilling, but it too faded, leaving only the ruins of the Burfind Hotel.

Train stops like Turkey Creek Station, 2 miles northeast of the French Lilly Mine, and Blaisdell Station, near Yuma, were vital for ore and passenger transport, though Blaisdell’s role was peripheral, notably linked to the tragic 1902 death of miner John Kelly, run over by the Sunset Freight Line. These connections tied Big Bug to Arizona’s burgeoning rail network, facilitating economic growth until the mines waned.

Notable Historic Citizens

  • Theodore Boggs: The town’s founder, Boggs was a quintessential frontiersman whose prospecting and resilience during Apache attacks defined Big Bug’s early years. His home served as the first post office, cementing his central role.
  • Miss Dawson: As assistant postmistress, she delivered mail on horseback, embodying the grit of Big Bug’s women.
  • Martha E. Whittaker/Martha E. Davidson: Postmistress in 1895, she served the town’s 100 residents, managing communications during its peak.
  • John Kelly: A prospector with claims like the American Flag and Silverton, Kelly’s death in 1902 under a freight train highlighted the perils of the era.
  • Joe Mayer: A miner and entrepreneur, Mayer founded the nearby town bearing his name and held interests in multiple Big Bug District mines, linking the two communities.
  • Bruce Profitt and Thomas Powias: Their 1901 murder case, with Profitt as victim and Powias as the accused, underscored the town’s lawlessness.

Decline and Legacy (1900s–Present)

Big Bug’s fortunes faded as high-grade ores dwindled. The post office closed in 1910, signaling the town’s decline. By the early 1900s, the population plummeted, and boarders at the Hitchcock Boarding House moved on. A brief revival in the 1930s saw 60 amateur miners work the Big Bug Placers, recovering up to $300 weekly, but this was a last gasp. The Boggs and Big Bug Mines saw minor activity in the 1940s, but by 2010, little remained of the town—only foundations mingled with modern residences.

Mining persists in the Big Bug District, with modern operations like those of Neal S. White, Overlook Mining Co., and Mayer Mining & Materials recorded in 1986, though on a smaller scale. The region’s 1,270 USGS-documented mines, 798 listing gold as a primary commodity, underscore its enduring mineral potential. Recent events, like the November 2025 flooding along Big Bug Creek that claimed the life of David Otero, highlight the area’s environmental challenges, with flash floods reshaping the landscape where miners once toiled.

Current Status

Big Bug is a ghost town, its original structures largely gone, overtaken by time and modern development. Scattered foundations and tailings piles along Big Bug Creek hint at its mining past, but the site is not a preserved historic landmark like nearby Jerome. Located within the Mayer 7.5-minute USGS quadrangle, it remains accessible via roads from Prescott or Mayer, though much of the land is private, requiring permission for exploration. The area’s historical significance is preserved in archives like the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, which documents figures like Boggs and events like the Profitt murder.

Big Bug’s legacy endures in its contribution to Yavapai County’s mining heritage, its role in the Bradshaw Mountains’ gold rush, and its connections to towns like Mayer and Humboldt, which continue to anchor the region. For those seeking to explore, resources from the Arizona Geological Survey or local historical societies offer insights into its storied past, while the creek itself—still prone to flooding—whispers of the beetles and dreamers who once called it home.

Birdcage Theater

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At the corner of Allen and Sixth Streets in Tombstone, Arizona, stands a squat, two-story adobe-and-brick building whose faded crimson sign still proclaims “BIRD CAGE THEATRE.” Opened on December 26, 1881, and operating continuously as a theater, saloon, gambling hall, and brothel until 1889, the Bird Cage is the only major structure from Tombstone’s wildest years that has never been gutted by fire, rebuilt, or substantially altered. Its bullet-scarred walls, original 1880s furnishings, and 140+ bullet holes (counted and documented) make it one of the best-preserved relics of the Old West. During Tombstone’s silver-boom zenith (1880–1886), the Bird Cage never closed—24 hours a day, 365 days a year—earning its nickname “the wildest, wickedest night spot between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast.”

Bird Cage Theater, scene of riotous entertainment during the mining boom days. Tombstone, Arizona - Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Bird Cage Theater, scene of riotous entertainment during the mining boom days. Tombstone, Arizona – Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

Construction and Design (1881)

The Bird Cage was conceived by William “Billy” Hutchinson, a San Francisco variety-theater entrepreneur, and his wife Lottie, who saw Tombstone’s explosive growth as the perfect market for high-class vice. Built in just 90 days at a cost of $50,000 (roughly $1.5 million today), the windowless building measured 60 ft wide by 120 ft deep. Its most distinctive feature was the main hall’s ceiling, from which fourteen small compartments (the “bird cages” or “cribs”) were suspended like balconies on either side of the stage. These private boxes, draped in red velvet and accessible only by ladders or an exterior stairway, were rented to prostitutes and their clients for $25–$60 a night—an astronomical sum at a time when miners earned $4 a day.

Below the cages ran a 30-foot mahogany bar imported from Pittsburgh, a faro layout, poker tables, and a small orchestra pit. A dumbwaiter connected the basement wine cellar to the bar, and the longest poker game in Western history (8 years, 5 months, 3 days) was played in the basement card room. The stage hosted vaudeville, minstrel shows, masquerade balls, and legitimate theater—often while gambling, drinking, and prostitution continued unabated in the same room.

Role in 1880s Tombstone

In a town of 10,000–14,000 people with 110 saloons, the Bird Cage was the undisputed elite venue. The Oriental, Crystal Palace, and Grand Hotel catered to gamblers and drinkers, but the Bird Cage combined high-stakes gambling, top-tier entertainment, and open prostitution under one roof. Admission was 25¢ for men (ladies free if accompanied), but drinks cost 50¢—double the town average. Performers included Eddie Foy, Lillian Russell, Lotta Crabtree, and the scandalous Fatima (the “Dancer with the Living Serpent”), whose act was so risqué that the Tombstone Epitaph refused to print its description.

The clientele ranged from silver millionaires like E. B. Gage and George Hearst to cowboys, miners, outlaws, and lawmen. Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan Earp were regulars; Doc Holliday dealt faro here; Johnny Ringo and Curly Bill Brocius drank at the bar. The Clantons and McLaurys were frequently seen in the cages. The mixture of alcohol, money, guns, and sex made violence inevitable.

Documented Violent Events Inside the Bird Cage

  • 1881–1889: At least 26 deaths occurred on the premises (16 by gunshot, others by stabbing, poisoning, or suicide). 140 bullet holes remain visible in walls, ceiling, and bar today.
  • March 15, 1882 – “Russian Bill” Tattenbaum and “Sandy King” King, members of the Clanton gang, were arrested inside the Bird Cage for horse theft. Both were hanged the next day.
  • December 28, 1881 (two days after opening) – A gunfight erupted over a faro game; one bullet passed through the canvas portrait of Fatima that still hangs onstage (the hole is visible).
  • 1882 – Margarita, a popular “soiled dove,” stabbed rival Gold Dollar in the bird cages with a stiletto after catching her with her lover, faro dealer Billy Milgreen. Gold Dollar survived; the blood-stained dress is on display.
  • 1880s – A prostitute known only as “Blonde Marie” leapt (or was pushed) from her cage to the floor below during an argument, breaking her neck. Her ghost is one of the most frequently reported in the building.

Connection to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Although the famous shootout (October 26, 1881) occurred three blocks away, the Bird Cage was intimately tied to the events. The night before, Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury drank heavily here while threatening the Earps. Doc Holliday had been dealing faro in the basement earlier that day. After the gunfight, the bodies of Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury were laid out in the Bird Cage’s back room for identification and embalming before being displayed in caskets on the sidewalk outside.

The bodies of Tom & Frank McLaury and Bill Clanton after the shoot-out in Tombstone
The bodies of Tom & Frank McLaury and Bill Clanton after the shoot-out in Tombstone

Decline and Closure (1889–1934)

When the silver mines flooded in 1886–87 and Tombstone’s population plummeted from 14,000 to under 800, the Bird Cage could no longer turn a profit. It closed in 1889, but the building was simply locked—furniture, fixtures, liquor bottles, faro tables, and even the original red wallpaper left exactly in place. The poker game in the basement finally ended in 1889 when the last players walked away. From 1892 to 1934 the building stood sealed, a time capsule of the boom years.

Rediscovery and Modern Era (1934–Present)

In 1934 the Hunley family purchased the property and reopened it as a museum. They found everything untouched: $5,000 in silver coins still in the faro bank drawer, original sheet music on the piano, and bullet-riddled walls. The Bird Cage has operated continuously as a tourist attraction ever since, owned since 1960 by the current family. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1963.

Artifacts on display include:

  • The original 1881 faro table used by Doc Holliday
  • The mummified remains of a 4-foot Gila monster found in the basement (legend says it was kept as a mascot)
  • The Black Moriah hearse that carried the O.K. Corral dead
  • The blood-stained stretcher used to carry Virgil Earp after the December 1881 ambush

The building is also famous for paranormal activity; it has been featured on Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, and numerous documentaries. Staff and visitors report hearing 1880s music, women laughing in empty cages, cigar smoke, and the smell of whiskey.

Legacy

More than any other structure, the Bird Cage Theatre embodies the raw, unfiltered energy of 1880s Tombstone: a place where millionaires, outlaws, lawmen, and painted ladies mingled in a haze of cigar smoke, gunpowder, and ragtime music. It was never “just” a saloon or theater—it was the beating, bullet-scarred heart of a frontier Babylon. Today, stepping through its heavy wooden doors is to walk directly into 1882, with the ghosts of the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Clantons still lingering in the shadows of the bird cages overhead.

Cerbat Arizona – Mohave County Ghost Town

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Cerbat is a historic mining camp and former town located in the Cerbat Mountains of Mohave County, northwestern Arizona, approximately 9-15 miles northwest of present-day Kingman. Nestled in a rugged canyon west of the main Cerbat Mountain range, the site sits at an elevation of around 4,580 feet. The name “Cerbat” derives from a Native American term meaning “Big Horn mountain sheep,” reflecting the wildlife once abundant in the area.

The town’s origins trace back to the late 1860s, when prospectors discovered rich deposits of gold and silver in the Cerbat Mountains. Following initial finds, mining camps quickly emerged, with Cerbat established around key claims including the Esmeralda, Golden Gem, Vanderbilt, Idaho, Flores, Night Hawk, and Big Bethel mines. By 1870-1871, a small settlement had formed, supported by a mill, smelter, stores, saloons, a school, a post office (opened December 23, 1872), and professional services such as a doctor’s office and a lawyer’s office. Cabins housed over 100 residents at its peak, making it a modest but prosperous frontier community isolated in the harsh desert terrain.

Cerbat Arizona in 1870
Cerbat Arizona in 1870

Boom Period and Significance (1870s-1880s)

Cerbat’s early growth was fueled by the broader mining boom in Mohave County, which began with gold discoveries along the Colorado River in the 1860s. Prospectors often arrived via steamboat to Hardyville (now part of Bullhead City), then trekked inland 38 miles to the Cerbat area. The town’s remote location necessitated infrastructure improvements: in 1872, a $6,000 dirt road was constructed over the mountains to connect Cerbat to eastern settlements like Fort Rock, Camp Hualapai, Williamson Valley, and Prescott.

In 1871, Cerbat briefly achieved prominence as the third county seat of Mohave County, building the county’s first permanent court house. However, it lost this status in 1873 (some sources cite 1877) to the nearby rival mining town of Mineral Park. Despite this, Cerbat remained active, with stage lines like the California and Arizona Stage Company providing weekly service in the 1880s, linking it to Mineral Park, Chloride, Prescott, and Hardyville via toll roads.

The surrounding Wallapai Mining District (encompassing Cerbat, Chloride, Mineral Park, and Stockton Hill) produced significant gold, silver, lead, zinc, and later turquoise. Cerbat’s mines contributed substantially, with the Golden Gem alone yielding around $400,000 in precious metals between 1871 and 1907.

Life in Cerbat reflected the turbulent Old West: conflicts with local Hualapai and other Native American groups led to miner deaths, while internal violence included murders, suicides, and at least one legal hanging (carpenter Michael DeHay in 1876 for killing his wife). The town’s pioneer cemetery preserves graves reflecting these hardships, including victims of mining accidents, disease (e.g., tuberculosis), and insanity-related incidents.

Decline and Abandonment (Late 19th to Early 20th Century)

Cerbat’s prosperity waned as richer deposits were exhausted or eclipsed by nearby camps. The post office, a key indicator of viability, operated until June 15, 1912 (with a brief name change to “Campbell” from 1890-1902). By the early 20th century, residents drifted away, and the town faded into obscurity. Sporadic mining continued in the district into the 20th century, but Cerbat itself never recovered.

Current Status

Cerbat is classified as a classic Arizona ghost town—uninhabited and abandoned, with no permanent residents. The site consists primarily of scattered ruins: faint stone foundations, crumbling walls, old mine shafts, tailings piles, and remnants of buildings overgrown by desert vegetation. A semi-modern warehouse and large steel safe from later eras remain, along with an active ranch at the canyon’s base. The pioneer cemetery is one of the better-preserved features, accessible for historical visits.

Access is via dirt roads off U.S. Highway 93 north of Kingman (near Milepost 62), requiring high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles for the final stretches, especially after rain. The area falls within public lands managed in part by the Bureau of Land Management, and nearby modern mining operations (e.g., at Mineral Park) have altered parts of the landscape with large open pits.

Cerbat attracts ghost town enthusiasts, hikers, and off-road explorers seeking remnants of Arizona’s mining heritage. It is not commercialized like some sites (e.g., no tours or facilities), emphasizing its raw, desolate character. The broader Cerbat Mountains remain notable for wild Cerbat mustangs (a protected feral herd of possible Spanish descent) and ongoing mineral exploration, but the town itself stands as a silent testament to the boom-and-bust cycles of the American West.

Town Summary

NameCerbat
LocationMohave County, Arizona
Latitude, Longitude35.303413,-114.1380277
GNS24353
Elevation3,872 Feet
Population100
Post OfficeDecember 23, 1872 – June 15, 1912
Alternate NamesCampbell (June 25, 1890 to October 24 1902 )

Cerbat Trail Map

References

Monument Valley

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Monument Valley, known in Navajo as Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii (meaning “valley of the rocks”), is a striking region of the Colorado Plateau located along the Arizona-Utah border within the Navajo Nation Reservation. This iconic landscape features clusters of towering sandstone buttes, mesas, and spires that rise dramatically from the valley floor, with the tallest formations reaching up to 1,000 feet (300 meters) in height. Spanning approximately 91,696 acres, it is not a national park but a Navajo Tribal Park, managed by the Navajo Nation since its establishment in 1958.

The area’s red-hued rock formations have become synonymous with the American Southwest, largely due to their appearances in films, but its significance extends far beyond Hollywood, encompassing deep geological history and profound cultural heritage for Indigenous peoples.

Geological Formation

Monument Valley’s unique geology is a product of millions of years of sedimentary deposition, uplift, and erosion on the Colorado Plateau. The formations primarily consist of sedimentary rocks dating from the Permian to the Jurassic periods, representing about 192 million years of Earth’s history. The process began during the Permian Period when the area was part of a vast inland sea and desert environments, leading to the accumulation of sediments from eroding ancestral Rocky Mountains.

The valley’s prominent features are built from three main stratigraphic layers:

  • Organ Rock Shale (Base Layer): This is the oldest exposed layer, formed from fine-grained sediments deposited in ancient floodplains and marine environments during the Permian Period. It erodes more easily than overlying layers, contributing to the undercutting that isolates the buttes.
  • De Chelly Sandstone (Middle Layer): Comprising the bulk of the buttes and mesas, this layer originated from wind-blown sands in ancient desert dunes during the Permian. Its cross-bedded structure is resistant to erosion, forming the steep cliffs and caps of the monuments.
  • Moenkopi Shale (Upper Layer): The youngest of the primary layers, deposited in tidal flats and shallow seas during the Triassic Period. It caps some formations and adds to the red coloration due to iron oxides, while manganese oxides create blue-gray hues in certain rocks.

Regional uplift of the Colorado Plateau, driven by tectonic forces, elevated these layers thousands of feet above sea level. Subsequent erosion by wind, water, and ice carved the landscape. Differential erosion played a key role: harder sandstones resisted weathering, while softer shales eroded faster, creating the isolated pillars, buttes, and arches seen today. Notable formations include the East and West Mitten Buttes (resembling hands in mittens), the Totem Pole (a slender sandstone spire), and Merrick Butte. The valley floor, at elevations of 5,000 to 6,000 feet, is composed of sand and siltstone, with its vivid red tones from oxidized iron.

Geological studies, including those by the U.S. Geological Survey and the New Mexico Geological Society, highlight Monument Valley as a classic example of plateau dissection. Similar landscapes on Mars have even been nicknamed “Monument Valley” by researchers due to visual parallels. Ongoing erosion continues to shape the area, though at a slow pace in this arid environment.

Historical Overview

Human history in Monument Valley dates back millennia, intertwined with its geological features. The earliest known inhabitants were the Ancestral Puebloans (also called Anasazi), who occupied the region around 1300 CE or earlier, building cliff dwellings and leaving petroglyphs in nearby areas like Mystery Valley. These ancient peoples used the valley’s resources for hunting, gathering, and agriculture before mysteriously abandoning the sites around the 14th century, possibly due to drought or resource depletion.

By the 1300s, San Juan Band Paiutes frequented the area as nomadic hunters and gatherers, naming it “Valley or Treeless Area Amid the Rocks” and imbuing it with spiritual significance, such as viewing certain formations as gods or hogans (traditional Navajo dwellings). The Navajo (Diné) people arrived later, establishing a more permanent presence by the 18th century. They consider the valley sacred, with mythological stories tied to the landforms.

European contact began with Spanish and Mexican explorers in the 18th and 19th centuries, often in punitive expeditions against Navajo raiders. In the 1860s, during the U.S. government’s campaigns against the Navajo, Kit Carson led forces into the region, forcing many Navajo into the “Long Walk” to internment at Bosque Redondo. After their return in 1868, the Navajo faced miners seeking silver and uranium, with notable incidents like the 1880 killings of prospectors Ernest Mitchell and James Merrick near the monoliths. Uranium mining boomed in the mid-20th century west of U.S. Highway 163, leaving a legacy of environmental contamination that persists today.

The modern era began in the early 20th century with traders like Harry and Leone “Mike” Goulding, who established a trading post in 1923 (now Goulding’s Lodge). They promoted the area to Hollywood, leading to director John Ford’s discovery of the valley in the 1930s. Ford’s films, starting with “Stagecoach” (1939) starring John Wayne, immortalized Monument Valley as the archetype of the American West. Subsequent movies like “The Searchers” (1956), “Forrest Gump” (1994), and “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) further cemented its fame.

In 1958, the Navajo Nation established Monument Valley as its first tribal park, a pioneering move in Indigenous self-governance that influenced other tribes. This designation preserved Navajo control over tourism, which includes guided tours emphasizing cultural history.

Cultural and Modern Significance

For the Navajo, Monument Valley is not just a geological wonder but a spiritual homeland. Legends describe buttes as defeated monsters or sky-supporters, and the land is integral to ceremonies and storytelling. Tourism, managed through Navajo-guided jeep, horseback, and hiking tours, provides economic benefits while sharing cultural insights. Visitors can explore the 17-mile scenic drive or off-road sites like Hunt’s Mesa, but unguided access is limited to respect sacred areas.

Today, Monument Valley attracts over 500,000 visitors annually, boosting the local economy through lodges, artisan sales, and film productions. Environmental challenges include erosion, climate change impacts, and legacy mining pollution, prompting ongoing conservation efforts by the Navajo Nation.