If you find yourself in Dodge City Kansas be sure and visit the Boot Hill Cemetery. In the early days of Dodge City there was not a town cemetery. If someone passed away who was prominent in the community, or if they had friends who had money, there were buried at the cemetery on post at Fort Dodge. If the deceased were unknown or poor they were buried wherever it was convenient to dig a hole. It is said in 1872 that two cowboys were camped near Dodge City and they had a gunfight. One died and the other fled the city. Since he was unknown the people in town wrapped him in a blanket and buried him where he fell with his boots on—so that is how Boot Hill began. Some of those who are buried here range from ones who were shot in saloons or dance halls, five buffalo hunters that were found frozen to death; a man found hanging in a tree outside of town to Alice Chambers who is thought to be the only women buried in Boot Hill. Alice was also the last person to be laid to rest in Boot Hill on May 5, 1878.
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