For your consideration is this original and rare, Tombstone Fire Station hat from the Tombstone Fire Department in Tombstone, Arizona Territory in the 1880s. Tombstone, founded in 1879, quickly became one of the most infamous mining towns in the Old West, complete with wooden structures, busy saloons, and the constant fear of disaster. The critical necessity for organized fire defense became clear, and the development of fire companies followed suit. Tombstone Engine Company No. 1 was officially founded on September 1, 1880, ushering in the city's first coordinated firefighting efforts. It was quickly followed by other volunteer groups, including Rescue Hose Company No. 1, which gave hose and manpower during fires. These early fire departments were entirely staffed by volunteers—brave townspeople who fought fires with few tools, no hydrants, and a scarcity of water, using bucket brigades or horse-drawn engines. The Tombstone Fire Department was tested early on. The town saw two devastating fires: the first on June 22, 1881, destroyed 66 shops along Allen Street, and the second on May 25, 1882, destroyed more than 100 buildings. Due to a lack of a suitable water system, villagers used dynamite to level buildings in the path of the flames, halting the fire's advance. These occurrences emphasized the importance of newly created fire departments and prompted additional investment in equipment and infrastructure. While the fire brigade battled fires, Tombstone's streets burned in their own manner. The town's history in the 1880s is as well known for its gunfights as for its silver. The Earp brothers, Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan, as well as their close comrade Doc Holliday, were at the core of the action. These men were key figures in the notorious Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which occurred on October 26, 1881, only months after the first major fire. The O.K. Corral fire, which began on May 25, 1882, was part of a wider inferno that destroyed most of the city, including several structures near the famed shootout location. The early fire companies, like Tombstone Engine Co. No. 1 and Rescue Hose Co. No. 1, laid the groundwork for modern fire protection in the town. These brave volunteers stood as a stabilizing force during some of Tombstone’s wildest years. The hat shows a black, oil cloth construction, giving it a water repellent attribute and a brim around the entirety of the fire hat. The front is marked with a large, red colored number 3, but has since faded. This is supposedly one of two or three that exist and was kept in the old City Hall for many years before being put on display in the Tombstone Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona in 2001. It shows good condition overall with wear present from its age and use over the years, but no major signs of damage noted. Small tears and worn oil cloth sections. It measures 12 3/4" L x 9 7/8" W x 4 3/4" H and weighs 10 ounces. Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. F01