Canyon Diablo, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Canyon Diablo, Arizona
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Canyon Diablo in its heyday, c. 1890
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 Canyon Diablo, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Canyon Diablo, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Coconino |
| Elevation | 5,433 ft (1,656 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
Canyon Diablo is a ghost town in Coconino County, Arizona, in the United States. It sits right on the edge of a dry riverbed called Canyon Diablo. This town started in 1880 but became empty in the early 1900s.
The town is about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Meteor Crater. This crater was formed by a giant space rock. Canyon Diablo was the closest town to the crater when parts of the meteorite were found. Because of this, the meteorite is officially called the "Canyon Diablo Meteorite."
Contents
History of Canyon Diablo
How the Town Started
Canyon Diablo began around 1882. This happened because of a big problem with the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. They were building a railroad bridge across the canyon. But the bridge they ordered was too short! They only found this out when it arrived.
So, for six months, the railroad line stopped right at the edge of Canyon Diablo. They had to wait for a new, longer bridge to be made and shipped. During this time, a small community grew up to serve the railroad workers.
Life in a Wild West Town
At first, Canyon Diablo was a busy place. It had many saloons, dance halls, and places for gambling. These businesses stayed open all day and night. There were no lawmen at first. This made the town a very dangerous place to live.
Soon, about 2,000 people lived there. A stagecoach route from Flagstaff to Canyon Diablo started. These stagecoaches were often attacked and robbed.
Marshals and the "Boot Hill" Cemetery
The town soon hired its first marshal. He was sworn in at 3:00 PM but was buried by 8:00 PM that same night. Five more town marshals followed him. The one who lasted the longest only stayed for one month. All of them died while doing their job.
A cemetery called "Boot Hill" quickly appeared at the edge of town. In less than ten years, it had 35 graves. All of these people had died in sudden, unexpected ways. The 36th grave belonged to Herman Wolfe, a former trading post owner. He died in 1899, and he was the only one who did not die in a sudden way.
Herman Wolfe's trading post was near the Little Colorado River. It was about 12 miles (19 km) north of Leupp, Arizona. Herman Wolfe died there, and his body was brought to Canyon Diablo for burial. Today, his grave has a large monument. People say that after World War II, a relative from Germany found his grave and added the headstone and other improvements.
The Town's End
When the railroad bridge was finally finished, the town quickly became empty. The original railroad bridge was replaced in 1900 with a stronger one. This new bridge could hold heavier trains.
By 1903, the only thing left in Canyon Diablo was a Navajo trading post. A brand new double-track railroad bridge was built across the Canyon in 1947. Today, you can still see a few building foundations. You can also find Herman Wolfe's grave marker, the ruins of the old trading post, a railroad siding, and the double-track railroad bridge.
Visiting Canyon Diablo Today
To get to Canyon Diablo, you need to drive north on a very rough road. This road starts from Exit 230/Two Guns off Interstate 40. It's a good idea to use a vehicle that sits high off the ground.
