The Tombstone Epitaph

Tombstone is a mix of the old and the new, the historic and the tacky, the authentic and the phony. The office of the Tombstone Epitaph, the town newspaper, is one of the authentic spots. Here you can see vintage printing presses and buy a newspaper with a dramatic headline -- a fatal gunfight has occurred at the OK Corral. You might almost believe you've been transported to the 1880's. But through the window, the modern automobiles are a reminder that you remain in the present.

Here is the text from the placard on the printing press:

ORIGINAL Epitaph PRINTING PRESS

The Tombstone Epitaph's first issue was printed on this press on May 1, 1880.

This press -- a "Washington Hand Press" -- was built in New York City in 1866. It was carried by ship around South America through Cape Horn to San Francisco. The press was originally used to print various newspapers in California gold mining towns.

In 1880, John Clum, the Epitaph's founder and first editor, bought the press and had it shipped by train from San Diego to Tucson, then brought by freight wagon to Tombstone. The press was advanced in its day and had a number of automatic devices that speeded printing. But it was still operated by hand and was used for many years to print the Epitaph.

As a decidedly "touristy" ghost town, the Tombstone townsite and shops are open to the public without charge, although several of the historic buildings, museums and shows charge individual admission fees. Tombstone is easily accessible via paved Highway 80 in southeastern Arizona.