Here are five facts that took place on June 16 in Arizona history:
1. In 1881, the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place in Tombstone, Arizona. This confrontation, which lasted less than a minute, involved lawman Wyatt Earp and his brothers, along with Doc Holliday, against a gang of outlaws. Three men were killed, and the event has become a legendary icon of the Wild West.
2. In 1933, the first drive-in movie theater in Arizona, the De Anza Drive-In, opened in Tucson. This type of entertainment became incredibly popular throughout the country, and drive-in theaters were prevalent in suburban and rural areas until the 1980s.
3. On June 16, 1960, the Phoenix Zoo officially opened in Papago Park. The zoo covers about 125 acres and features over 1,400 animals from around the world. The most famous resident was Nandi, a beloved elephant that lived at the zoo for over 60 years.
4. In 1994, the deadliest fire in Arizona's history occurred in Yarnell, Arizona. The blaze, known as the Dude Fire, started on June 25, but on June 16, a crew of 12 firefighters from the city of Prescott were tragically killed when they were overrun by the flames.
5. On June 16, 2017, the Monument Fire broke out near Sierra Vista, Arizona. Over 45,000 acres were burned, and hundreds of families were evacuated from their homes. Fortunately, no fatalities occurred, and the fire was eventually contained on June 30.
5 Fun Facts About June 16 In Arizona History
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