Arizona is one of several states that make up the Wild West in the United States. Arizona became a territory in 1863 and was later admitted into the Union on February 14, 1912, but it had a long, exciting history before that. Miners, cowboys, and outlaws passed through Arizona on their way to California during the Gold Rush of 1849, but when copper was discovered in 1854, people stayed and mining towns all around the state sprung up. Of course, with an influx of population comes a new need for graveyards. The cemeteries of the mining and cowboy towns, like the towns themselves, were often put together in a hodge-podge manner. Some Arizona graveyards linger in disrepair (Yuma Pioneer Cemetery) and others have become thriving tourist attractions (Tombstone). Regardless of their conditions, the cemeteries of Arizona offer powerful and precious reminders of Arizona's wild history. Graveyards of the Wild West: Arizona invites you to learn not only about Arizona's past, but to see it and meet the people whose spirit of adventure led them to live and die in an arcadian and untamed territory.

California is one of several states that make up the Wild West in the United States. It was first established as a U.S. a territory in 1848. The state that would become California was, like so much of the West, originally inhabited by Native Americans and, in the sixteenth century, colonized by Spain as part of Mexico. After the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), the United States acquired the land that eventually became Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California. As with other Southwest states, precious metals were found in the late nineteenth century, and pioneers, miners, cowboys, and outlaws converged on "The Golden State." California attained statehood in 1850. Of course, with an influx of residents comes a new need for graveyards. The cemeteries of the pioneer and mining towns carry on even as the towns have fallen to ruins. Many California graveyards linger in obscurity in out-of-the-way places (Garlock-Goler, Keeler), while others are popular tourist attractions (Bodie). Regardless of their conditions, the cemeteries offer powerful and precious reminders of California's wild history.

Nevada is one of several states that make up the Wild West in the United States. Nevada became a territory in 1848; due to a lack of inhabitants, it was incorporated as part of the Utah Territory in 1850. The state that would become Nevada was, like so much of the West, originally inhabited by Native Americans and, in the sixteenth century, colonized by Spain as part of Mexico. After the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), the United States acquired the land that eventually became Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California. As with other Southwest states, gold and other precious metals were found in the nineteenth century, and pioneers, miners, cowboys, and outlaws converged on the territory. The many riches exhumed from the desert, which produced a population explosion, allowed Nevada to become its own territory in 1861 and a state in 1864. Of course, with an influx of residents comes a new need for graveyards. The cemeteries of the pioneer and mining towns carry on even as the towns have fallen to ruins. Many Nevada graveyards linger in obscurity in out-of-the-way places (Candelaria, Silver Peak), while others are beautifully maintained and can't be missed while driving through town (Hawthorne, Tonopah). Regardless of their conditions, the cemeteries offer powerful and precious reminders of Nevada's wild history. Graveyards of the Wild West: Nevada invites you to learn not only about Nevada's past, but to see it and meet the people whose spirit of adventure led them to live and die in an idyllic and untamed territory.

As pioneers attempted to settle and civilize the ?Wild West,? cemeteries became important cultural centers. Filled with carved wooden headboards, inscribed local stones, and Italian marble statues, cemeteries functioned as symbols of stability and progress toward a European-inspired vision of Manifest Destiny. As repositories of art and history, these pioneer cemeteries tell the story of communities and visual culture emerging together within the developing landscape of the Old West. Annette Stott traces this story through Rocky Mountain towns on the western frontier, from the unkempt ?boot hills? of the early mining camps and cattle settlements to the more refined ?fair mounts.? She shows how people from Asia, Europe, and the Americas contributed to the visual character of the mountain cemeteries, and how the sepulchral garden functioned as an open-air gallery of public sculpture, at once a site for relaxation, learning, and social ritual. Here, widespread participation in a variety of ceremonies brought mountain communities together with a frequency almost unimaginable today. Illustrated with eighty-three striking photographs, this book shows how the pioneer cemetery emerged as a site of public sculpture and cultural transmission in which each carved or molded monument played dual (and sometimes conflicting) public and private roles, recording the community?s history and values while memorializing individuals and events.

"Quien es?" The answer to this incautious question - "Who is it?" - was a bullet to the heart. That bullet -- fired by Lincoln County Sheriff Patrick F. Garrett from a .40-44 caliber single action Colt pistol -- ended the life of Billy the Kid, real name William Henry McCarty. But death - ordinarily so final - only fueled the public's fascination with Billy the Kid. What events led to Billy's killing? Was it inevitable? Was a woman involved? If so, who was she? Why has Billy's gravestone become the most famous - and most visited - Western death marker? Is Billy really buried in his grave? Is the grave in the right location? Is it true that Pat Garrett's first wife is buried in the same cemetery? Is Billy's girlfriend buried there also? The Fort Sumner cemetery where Billy's grave is located was once plowed for cultivation. Why? What town, seeking a profitable tourist attraction, tried to move Billy's body, using a phony relative to justify the action? These questions -- and many others - are answered in this book. Over 60 photos, including many historical photos never previously published.

The answer to this incautious question - "Who is it?" - was a bullet to the heart.That bullet - fired by Lincoln County Sheriff Patrick F. Garrett from a .40-44 caliber single action Colt pistol - ended the life of Billy the Kid, real name William Henry McCarty.But death - ordinarily so final - only fueled the public's fascination with Billy the Kid.What events led to Billy's killing?Was it inevitable?Was a woman involved? If so, who was she?Why has Billy's gravestone become the most famous - and most visited - Western death marker?Is Billy really buried in his grave?Is the grave in the right location?Is it true that Pat Garrett's first wife is buried in the same cemetery?Is Billy's girlfriend buried there also?The Fort Sumner cemetery where Billy's grave is located was once plowed for cultivation. Why?What town, seeking a profitable tourist attraction, tried to move Billy's body, using a phony relative to justify the action?These questions - and many others - are answered in this book.To supplement this history are 65 photos and illustrations. These include photos of the different memorials that have marked Billy's grave over the years, including a photo of Billy's previously unknown second grave marker; pictures of the men - friends of Billy - who re-located the grave in 1931; pictures of Billy's most likely girlfriend, Paulita Maxwell, and her parents; and a historic 1906 Fort Sumner cemetery map showing the location of Billy's grave.