Tombstone's motto is "The Town To Tough To Die," and that is true in more ways than we can ever image. From the very beginning, Tombstone was destined for success with the silver mines surrounding the town; mines that produced as much as $85 million in silver bullion within a few years after the town was founded in the mid 1800s. Some estimates put the total population (of counted and uncounted residents) as high as 10,000 in the late 1800s.
But after a series of fires in the 1880s, the population began to dwindle.
By 1900, the census counted a mere 646 residents remaining in Tombstone. It would take the better part of the coming century to double that number. And today, the City of Tombstone is home to approximately 1,300 residents. It's hardly a deserted ghost town, but also hardly home to 10,000 people, as it has been in the past.
While the population shift was occurring, Tombstone simply refused to die. Today, this "ghost town" is a favorite among tourists who love to experience the Old West. But stagecoaches and staged gun fights aren't the only thing you'll encounter in Tombstone...
This photo was taken in 1881, during the rise of the boom town phase. Just four years later, a new bride with roots in Scotland, received a care package from home.
It included cuttings from her favorite rose tree in Scotland. Thrilled with her gift, she shared a cutting with her friend who ran a boarding house for one of the mines.
And the rest... is history. Today that rose tree is an unexpected surprise to discover in Tombstone. It is considered the largest rose tree in the world — and has been unchallenged since The Guiness Book of World Records added it as such. It is estimated to be 133 years old — and like the town where it was planted, it has refused to die. The base of the rose tree has grown to nearly 14 feet in circumference.
And the vines? Well, they create a beautiful, sweet-smelling canopy of 8,000 square feet of shade.
Visitors to Tombstone's Rose Tree Museum & Bookstore pay a nominal fee to walk beneath the world's oldest rose tree. And rose enthusiasts from around the world flock to Tombstone's Annual Rose Festival, which celebrates the new blooming season each Spring.
Have you seen this lovely surprise hiding in Tombstone? We'd love to know — and to see your photos.
The world's largest rose tree is located within the courtyard of the Rose Tree Museum and Bookstore at 118 S 4th St., Tombstone, AZ 85638. The hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week. The typical blooming season is Feb. 15 - May 15. During blooming season, it opens at 9:00 a.m. Learn more on the official website for the world's largest rose tree.
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