Audie Murphy museum set for grand opening in Tombstone (2024)

FAQs

Why is there an Audie Murphy Museum in Tombstone? ›

The Audie Murphy & Medal of Honor Museum is dedicated to the memory and honor of America's most decorated WWII combat soldier and western actor, Audie L. Murphy.

Audie Murphy loved horses and was one of the best horse riding actors in Hollywood during his time. Unlike other actors Audie insisted on riding his own horses and doing his own stunts as often as the studios would allow.

Bought by Audie Murphy in 1956 the TM ranch was named after Terry Murphy and is approximately 30 miles south east of Tucson, Arizona in Pima County just outside the community of Vail.

He received the Croix de guerre 1940 Palm from Belgium. The military assisted him with replacement medals after he gave away the originals. Duplicates of his Medal of Honor and other medals can be viewed at Dallas Scottish Rite Temple museum.

Audie Leon Murphy, June 20, 1924 – May 28, 1971, was the most highly decorated American soldier in World War II. He is buried in Section 46, grave 366-11 in Arlington National Cemetery.

The most notable use of the name "Boot Hill" is at the Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona. 31°43′11.6″N 110°04′13.6″W Formerly called the "Tombstone Cemetery", the plot features the graves of Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury; the three men who were killed during the famed Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Audie grew up tough and had a bad temper And he would fight you anytime or anyplace He was a daredevil, and nothing could scare him He was tough as an old boot, though he had a baby face.

In August 1944, Murphy's division moved to southern France as part of Operation Dragoon. It was there that his best friend, Lattie Tipton, was lured into the open and killed by a German soldier pretending to surrender. Enraged by this act, Murphy charged and killed the Germans that had just killed his friend.

Murphy eventually passed on the opportunity of enrollment at West Point, in part because of limitations resulting from his war injuries. At the end of his active Army service, he was given 50 percent disability classification and transferred to the Officers' Reserve Corps.

He did, however, fulfill his promise to get his younger siblings out of the orphanage and bought a home for older sister Corinne so she could help rear the children. Audie Murphy's wartime heroics landed his photo on the cover of the July 16, 1945 issue of Life.

Did Audie Murphy own a ranch? ›

Murphy bred quarter horses at the Audie Murphy Ranch in what is now Menifee, California, and the Murphy Ranch in Pima County, Arizona. His horses raced at the Del Mar Racetrack, and he invested large sums of money in the hobby.

The Audie Murphy Ranch is a master planned community located on a 1,400-acre hillside in Riverside County. The 2,355-home project includes two schools, almost 300 acres of open space, about 40 acres of parks, and a community center with a clubhouse.

He was wounded three times, fought in nine major campaigns across Europe, and was credited with killing 241 Germans. He was awarded 37 medals and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit, and the Croix de Guerre (with palm).

Murphy suffered from what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder, experiencing headaches, depression and nightmares; he once said that he could sleep only with a loaded pistol under his pillow. In 1971, at the age of 46, Murphy died in the crash of a private plane near Roanoke, Virginia.

Audie Murphy received the Purple Heart three times during World War II. He also received every combat award for valor available from the Army — including the Medal of Honor — as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism.

Located off Interstate 30 is the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum. For over 20 years, the museum has explored the rich and fascinating history of the region taking guests on a journey of discovery from the heyday of the cotton fields of the 1880's to the battlefields of the 20th Century.

Audie Murphy was one of six people who perished on the side of a mountain near the present-day Appalachian Trail. We dug deep in the WSLS archive to find our film reel on the story. The date was May 31, 1971, three days after the plane had departed Atlanta headed for Martinsville and never arrived.

The sanatorium is actually part of the Mescal Movie Set, one of two movie sets that were combined to create the majority of the Tombstone filming locations. The Mescal Movie Set is home to the fake version of Tombstone and the sanatorium, so if you visit you can get double the Tombstone experience.