Mining was a big industry and a huge draw to the Southwest in the mid to late 1800's. Southern Arizona was no different, with copper mines being the primary draw. In the midst of the rush West, many towns appeared trying to establish themselves for long-term prosperity. The desert is a difficult and unforgiving place to live and work. The images and stories of the lawlessness in these towns are iconic. Tombstone, and the events of the OK Corral shootout belong to the ages. Though Tombstone still exists and draws many tourists and Old West enthusiasts, many of the small towns never quite made it. Among them, and pictured here: Gleeson, Courtland, Pearce, Fairbank, and Milltown. Long forgotten and falling into ruin, the ghosts of the past still haunt the desert hills.
And no ghost town is quite complete without it’s cemetery. Overgrown by desert shrubs and grasses, these forgotten cemeteries provide us a glimpse of the challenge that was life in the desert.
