While not a national park site, I just had to stop to see the legendary Gunfight at OK Corral. The shootout was so quick I only got this photo of the aftermath. As mass shootings go now, I doubt this one from 1881 would make the news today. Now mass shooters kill more in one hour than any old west gunslinger did in their lives.

This Arizona town—named after a silver claim wrongly thought hopeless—is not far from a Butterfield Stage stop, and it has restored horse-drawn stagecoaches that take folks around the historic center of town. Boot Hill cemetery is another famous site here, but there are loads of historic saloons, re-enactments, museums, shops and more.

The “world’s largest rose tree” is in a courtyard near the courthouse, and it’s amazing how large plants can get if we let them grow. Nellie Cashman ran a string of successful businesses here before moving on to the Klondike. Three Mexican Revolutionaries were convicted in the old county courthouse here, along with the Bisbee Massacre gang. And Geronimo had his famous photo taken by the photographer who had a studio above.

West of town is the San Pedro Riparian conservation area, which protects nature and both Native American and Spanish sites. Further west on the other side of Apache Peak is Las Cienegas—the marshes—conservation area, which is a beautiful protected grassy lowland in a historic ranching area. Since many tourists fly around burning carbon these days, they miss these distinct and fascinating features of the old west.