Arizona State Parks - Press Release

ARIZONA STATE PARKS
For Immediate Release
Managing and conserving Arizona’s natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people, both in our Parks and through our Partnerships.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Bilbrey at (602) 542-1996 or (602) 228-8518, pio at azstateparks.gov or Monica Enriquez at (602) 542-6997

GERMAN VISITORS FLOCK TO TOMBSTONE...WHY IS THAT?

(Phoenix Arizona – January 12, 2007) - Movies about Tombstone have lured American
tourists to that town for many years, but few people know that author Karl May [pronounced My] has drawn thousands of avid fans of his books from around the world to this wild west town.

From the pen of a 19th century German author comes a European perspective of the American West. An exhibit featuring the life and works of one of Germany’s most celebrated authors, Karl May, is now on display at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park. The exhibit features no original ethnographic materials and is comprised of 12 informational panels. The exhibit of black & white and color prints with text features May’s life, works, and his legacy-the Karl May Museum, in his hometown of Radebeul, Saxony, Germany. The exhibit of May was and is to Germany and European people as Zane Grey was to the American audience, only more widely read. The exhibit closes on March 30, 2007.

Born on February 25, 1842 in Radebeul, Saxony. May was trained as a teacher but
was never able to succeed in that vocation. He instead “borrowed” incessantly from his
friends until he landed in jail. While there, May read extensively about the great
American West. In 1875 when he got out of jail, May began writing â €œWinnetou,” It is a
romanticized account set in southern Arizona and Cochise County. His hero,
the son of a German immigrant, quickly establishes himself as a man to be reckoned with
and receives the name Shatterhand. This was the first of a series of three books he
produced over a 35-year period.

Karl May died March 30, 1912 after 70 years of writing about and collecting significant
Native American ceremonial artifacts. He did this while never visiting the West he so passionately wrote about. This irreplaceable collection of Indian artifacts, Middle Eastern artifacts and his personal effects can only be seen in his hometown of Radebeul.

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is located on the corner of Toughnut and 3rd
Streets, 2 blocks off Highway 80, in Tombstone, Arizona.

Admission to the park is $4 per person for ages 14 and up; children aged 13 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Arizona State Park Annual Pass is available for $45 (some restrictions apply). For more information please call Tombstone State Historic Park at (520) 457-3311.

For information about Arizona State Parks call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit the website at www.azstateparks.com.

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