Canyon Diablo appeared virtually overnight in 1880 when railroad construction halted at a treacherous gorge in Arizona. You’ll find this infamous settlement once boasted “Hell Street,” with fourteen saloons, gambling dens, and brothels serving 2,000 residents. It earned a reputation deadlier than Tombstone, with six consecutive marshals killed within their first month. After the railroad bridge completion in 1890, the town vanished almost instantly, leaving only ruins and wild tales behind.
Key Takeaways
- Canyon Diablo emerged in 1880 as a railroad boomtown with 2,000 residents before becoming one of the West’s most dangerous settlements.
- The town’s infamous “Hell Street” featured fourteen saloons, ten gambling dens, four brothels, and claimed six marshals’ lives within months.
- After the railroad bridge completion in 1890, Canyon Diablo rapidly declined as workers moved westward, leaving businesses abandoned.
- The Canyon Diablo Trading Post, established in 1886, remained operational until 1910 as a post office and Wells Fargo station.
- The Great Train Robbery of 1889 at Canyon Diablo Station became legendary, with masked bandits allegedly stealing over $100,000.
The Birth of a Railroad Boom Town (1880)
In 1880, as the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad pushed westward across Arizona Territory, construction abruptly halted at the edge of a formidable 255-foot-deep chasm known as Canyon Diablo. This natural barrier demanded a specialized bridge, creating an unexpected six-month pause in railroad expansion.
What began as a temporary workers’ camp quickly transformed as the population surged beyond 2,000 residents. Italian stonemasons shaped limestone pillars on-site for the bridge foundation while camp life evolved around them. The settlement earned a reputation as more dangerous than Tombstone with its lawless atmosphere and violent history.
The makeshift settlement soon outgrew nearby Flagstaff, becoming a concentrated hub of commerce and vice. The main thoroughfare became notoriously known as Hell Street due to its dangerous reputation and violent incidents.
The railroad’s westward march had created an instant boom town where none existed before—a pattern repeated throughout the American frontier as steel rails connected the nation.
Hell Street: The Notorious Heart of Canyon Diablo
As the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad stalled at Canyon Diablo’s edge in 1880, a notorious mile-long thoroughfare known as “Hell Street” quickly emerged as the settlement’s pulsing center.
This dusty strip hosted fourteen saloons, ten gambling dens, four brothels, and two dance halls—all operating continuously without closure or regulation.
You’d find Hell Street‘s chaotic atmosphere defined by its complete absence of law enforcement. The transient population of railroad workers, drifters, and outlaws created a volatile environment where gunfights erupted regularly and violence went unchecked. The nearest peace officer was stationed over a hundred miles away, leaving the town to govern itself through violence. Many of these stories, however, are likely exaggerated accounts stemming from a single biographer’s writings.
Unlike nearby Tombstone, Canyon Diablo’s notorious nightlife followed no rules. Businesses stood in two parallel rows facing each other across Hell Street, hastily constructed to serve the temporary community.
While Tombstone maintained some semblance of order, Hell Street existed as a lawless corridor of hastily-built establishments serving Canyon Diablo’s transient denizens.
Most residents lived in crude tents or shacks surrounding this commercial corridor of vice and commerce.
Six Marshals, Six Graves: Law Enforcement’s Losing Battle
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more dangerous law enforcement position than marshal of Canyon Diablo, where the shortest tenure reportedly ended in death just five hours after appointment.
This revolving door of marshals created a grim pattern as six consecutive lawmen met violent ends while attempting to bring order to the lawless town.
None managed to survive longer than a month in office, their rapid succession of deaths cementing Canyon Diablo’s reputation as more perilous than even notorious Tombstone.
Canyon Diablo’s graveyard became infamous as it quickly filled with victims of the town’s violent history, including the remains of John Shaw who received a macabre whiskey tribute from cowboys after his death.
By 1905, the town had become nearly a ghost town with only a small population remaining, which made it an ideal hideout for outlaws like Evans and Shaw after their Wigwam Saloon robbery.
Five-Hour Marshal Tenure
The infamous five-hour tenure of Canyon Diablo’s first marshal stands as perhaps the starkest example of the town’s legendary lawlessness.
Sworn in at 3 p.m., the doomed lawman met his marshal’s fate by 8 p.m. the same day, gunned down before he could establish any meaningful authority.
This brief and violent initiation set a grim precedent for law enforcement in Canyon Diablo.
The community’s response—no funeral, no public mourning—revealed their hostility toward anyone attempting to impose order.
The lawman’s legacy became the first in a tragic pattern that would claim six more marshals, none surviving longer than a month in office.
Such extreme resistance to authority underscored the anarchic nature of a boomtown where outlaws, gamblers, and desperate men rejected any constraint on their freedom.
Eventually, the widespread criminal activity forced the U.S. Army to intervene and restore some semblance of order to the chaotic town.
The gravedigger at Boot Hill cemetery worked tirelessly under the blazing sun to accommodate the town’s growing collection of lawmen.
Death’s Revolving Door
While the first marshal’s five-hour tenure shocked even hardened frontier settlers, his death merely initiated a grim pattern that would claim six more lawmen in Canyon Diablo.
The town’s Boot Hill cemetery filled quickly as each replacement met similar fates within weeks or even days of pinning on the badge.
Canyon Diablo legends about these lawmen include:
- Bodies barely cold before replacement marshals arrived
- One marshal’s corpse reportedly dug up for a final drink at a saloon
- Makeshift graves dug where marshals fell, without proper ceremony
- Each new marshal lasting progressively shorter periods
Marshal folklore persists because these deaths exemplified the town’s lawlessness.
With 14 saloons and 10 gambling halls catering to 2,000 residents, Canyon Diablo created perfect conditions for criminal dominance, making law enforcement effectively impossible. The infamous Hell Street served as the main thoroughfare where most of the town’s violent confrontations occurred. With no real law enforcement within a hundred miles, residents behaved without restrictions, leading to the town’s reputation for violence.
Life and Death in the Wild West’s Deadliest Settlement
Among the many notorious settlements that dotted the American frontier, Canyon Diablo earned its reputation as perhaps the deadliest town in the Wild West between 1880-1890.
This railroad history flashpoint emerged when construction halted at Devil’s Canyon, creating a lawless boomtown of 2,000 souls with no effective governance.
You’d find “Hell Street” teeming with fourteen saloons, ten gambling houses, and four brothels operating continuously.
Law enforcement attempts proved futile—the first marshal lasted just five hours before being killed, with five successors meeting similar fates.
Six lawmen, six graves. Canyon Diablo chewed through marshals faster than gunslingers through whiskey.
The cemetery filled so quickly that victims were buried where they fell.
After the bridge’s completion in 1890, Canyon Diablo’s purpose vanished.
The Great Train Robbery: $100,000 Vanishes in the Desert
Four masked bandits made history in March 1889 when they staged a daring heist at Canyon Diablo Station, just as Arizona had declared train robbery a capital offense.
The express agent surrendered between $600 and $800, though robbery legends claim a much larger haul exceeding $100,000 in currency and gold—worth over $3 million today.
Sheriff “Buckey” O’Neill’s posse pursued the outlaws across 300 miles, finally capturing them in Utah after a fierce gunfight.
The disappearance of most of the loot has inspired countless treasure hunt attempts in the Arizona desert.
Consider these facts:
- Only $1,000 was recovered from the captured robbers
- One robber, John J. Smith, escaped by jumping from a train window
- The discrepancy between official and rumored amounts remains unexplained
- Despite the new capital punishment law, no robbers faced execution
From Bustling Outpost to Abandoned Ruins
You’d barely recognize Canyon Diablo today as the raucous frontier town that once hosted 14 saloons, 10 gambling houses, and 4 brothels along its infamous Hell Street.
After thriving for just 18 months as one of the West’s most dangerous outposts, where six marshals met violent deaths and Boot Hill cemetery rapidly filled with gunshot victims, the town emptied almost overnight when the railroad bridge was completed around 1890.
Boom and Bust Cycle
When the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad halted construction at Canyon Diablo in 1880, few could have predicted the dramatic cycle of prosperity and decline that would follow.
The six-month bridge-building delay created a bottleneck of railroad expansion, trapping a transient workforce of over 2,000 people at the canyon’s edge.
The boom town‘s rapid rise and fall followed this pattern:
- Workers stranded at the canyon spawned immediate demand for services
- Entrepreneurs rushed to establish 14 saloons, 10 gambling houses, and 4 brothels along “Hell Street”
- Economic activity thrived solely on railroad workers’ spending
- When bridge completion allowed westward movement, the town emptied almost overnight
Lawless Frontier Town
As Canyon Diablo transformed from bustling outpost into a lawless frontier town, it quickly earned the notorious distinction of being the deadliest settlement in the Old West.
The town’s outlaw culture flourished with 14 saloons, 10 casinos, and 4 brothels serving a population dominated by criminals and drifters.
Attempts at frontier justice repeatedly failed – six town marshals died in succession, with the first sheriff lasting only five hours.
When you consider the spectacular crimes, including a train robbery worth $3 million in today’s currency, it’s clear why economic decline followed.
The U.S. Army refused intervention despite merchants’ pleas, leaving only the wealthiest businesses able to afford private security.
Canyon Diablo’s strategic but isolated location along the railroad made it both commercially valuable and impossible to police effectively.
Fading Into History
The completion of Canyon Diablo’s railway bridge in 1890 marked the beginning of the town’s swift decline into obscurity.
With construction finished, the railroad workers who formed the backbone of the local economy departed almost overnight, triggering a dramatic town transformation. The once-bustling settlement with 2,000 residents quickly emptied.
The railroad decline unfolded in rapid succession:
- Workers moved westward as rail construction continued beyond the canyon.
- Businesses dependent on the transient population closed their doors permanently.
- Population plummeted from thousands to merely a handful within months.
- Entrepreneurs either relocated their operations or abandoned them entirely.
What had been a center of frontier commerce and notorious lawlessness was rapidly becoming just another forgotten outpost on the expanding American frontier.
The Trading Post: Final Holdout in a Ghost Town
Founded in 1886 by Fred W. Volz, the Canyon Diablo Trading Post stood as a beacon of stability amid the lawless frontier town. Known to Navajos as Kinigai (White House), this stone structure with basement and cistern established canyon diablo commerce beyond mere trade.
It served as a U.S. Post Office and Wells Fargo Station until 1910, anchoring settlement near the railroad.
Despite the surrounding chaos—where marshals died within hours and Hell Street earned its reputation—the trading post significance can’t be overstated. It provided essential supplies, social connections, and communication for railroad workers, travelers, and Navajo people.
While chaos reigned in Canyon Diablo, the trading post stood as civilization’s foothold, connecting diverse communities through commerce and communication.
After 1910, new owners adapted to changing times by adding a restaurant and gas pumps to serve Route 66 travelers, representing the final commercial holdout as Canyon Diablo faded into ghost town status.
Two Guns and the Apache Death Cave Connection
Located several miles from Canyon Diablo, the Apache Death Cave near Two Guns became notorious following a brutal 1878 massacre that would forever alter the area’s historical narrative.
When Navajo warriors discovered Apache raiders hiding underground, they enacted devastating revenge by suffocating and shooting approximately 42 men.
Decades later, entrepreneur Henry “Two Gun” Miller transformed this site of tragedy into a macabre attraction:
- He built stone structures atop the cave, renaming it “Mystery Cave”
- He displayed and sold Apache bones as souvenirs
- He constructed a trading post and zoo to draw Route 66 travelers
- He leveraged the Apache legacy to create a profitable tourist stop
This commercialization of Native American suffering exemplifies how historical sites often evolve from places of tragedy to commodified attractions.
Legends and Legacy: Canyon Diablo in Western Folklore
The town’s infamy centered on “Hell Street,” lined with saloons and brothels operating around the clock.
Yet many historical myths may be exaggerated, primarily spread by a single dime-novel historian seeking sensationalism.
Native American traditions add another dimension to Canyon Diablo’s legacy, with Navajo tales describing the area as spiritually charged.
Ghostly encounters are said to occur near the infamous Apache Death Cave, where brutal violence allegedly left lingering spirits haunting the rugged canyon walls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Canyon Diablo Cemetery Ever Properly Documented or Preserved?
No, you won’t find proper cemetery documentation or significant preservation efforts at Canyon Diablo. Its graveyard remained largely unrecorded during the town’s brief existence and continues to deteriorate without formal protection.
How Did Women and Children Fare in the Lawless Environment?
Walking a tightrope, you’d find women and children survived through mutual protection networks despite minimal safety measures. They faced exploitation, violence, and hardship with virtually no community support in this brutal, transient environment.
What Happened to the Families of Marshals Killed in Canyon Diablo?
You’ll find marshal families faced grim family aftermath—losing providers, enduring poverty, and fleeing the dangerous town. These marshal legacies remained largely undocumented as families scattered, seeking safer environments without formal support.
Are There Any Photographs of Canyon Diablo During Its Heyday?
Yes, multiple historical photographs exist showing Canyon Diablo’s railroad bridge, trading post, and surrounding town architecture from the early 1900s. You’ll find these images in Library of Congress and Arizona Republic archives.
Can Visitors Access Canyon Diablo Ruins Today, and Is It Protected?
Like a forgotten doorway to the Wild West, you can freely access Canyon Diablo ruins via Exit 230 off I-40. Despite National Register listing since 1988, preservation efforts remain minimal with no formal access regulations enforced.
References
- https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/road-trips/2018/10/17/canyon-diablo-arizona-shootouts-myths-legends/1533865002/
- http://www.samueltaylorphoto.com/blog/2019/5/14/cursed-earth-arizona
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/canyon-diablo
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CITGpzaDS4k
- https://zunirvpark.com/guns-ghosts-and-graves-the-haunted-history-of-two-guns-arizona/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Guns
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/az-canyondiablo/
- https://www.theroadwanderer.net/railghosts.htm
- https://www.gypsyjournalrv.com/2010/04/canyon-diablo-an-old-west-hellhole/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyon_Diablo
