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1. Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1881)

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1881)

Tombstone, Arizona Territory

Known as arguably the most famous gunfight in Western history, the legendary showdown at the O.K. Corral has captured attention for over a century. Taking place on a mild mid-afternoon in Tombstone, Arizona, in October of 1881, this brief yet deadly encounter involved some of the Old West’s most iconic figures.

Deputy U.S. Marshal and Tombstone City Marshal, Virgil Earp, along with his brothers Wyatt and Morgan, had long been at odds with a group of outlaws known as the Cowboys. That day, the Earp brothers were joined by their close friend and notorious gunslinger, John Henry “Doc” Holliday, who had been deputized as a temporary policeman. The four men made their way down Fremont Street, stopping six doors down from the O.K. Corral, where their rivals awaited.

On the opposite side stood the Cowboys, consisting of Billy Claiborne, brothers Ike and Billy Clanton, and brothers Tom and Frank McLaury. The tension between the two groups had been building, fueled by a long-standing feud over law enforcement, cattle rustling, and personal grudges.

Standing just six feet apart, the men stared each other down. In the blink of an eye, the quiet street erupted into chaos as 30 rounds of gunfire were exchanged in 30 seconds. When the smoke cleared, Billy Clanton and both McLaury brothers lay dead in the dirt. Two of the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday, although victorious, had not escaped unscathed—Virgil, Morgan and Holliday were all wounded. Remarkably, Wyatt Earp emerged from the deadly crossfire without a scratch. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne fled the scene, escaping with their lives.

The gunfight, though brief, became a symbol of the lawless and violent nature of the Western frontier. It marked the climax of the bitter conflict between the Earps and the Cowboys, cementing their place in history. Although they were charged with murder following the shootout, the Earp brothers and Holliday were cleared of any wrongdoing, with the court ruling their actions were in self-defense.

Over time, the shootout gained legendary status, popularized by the 1957 film The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, starring Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster. Today, the gunfight at the O.K. Corral is remembered as a defining moment of the Old West, where lawmen and outlaws clashed in the dusty streets, and justice was often defined at the barrel of a gun.

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