The legendary O.K Corral lawman Wyatt Earp from Tombstone, AZ became a major part of Nome, AK history many years ago. When Wyatt arrived in Nome in 1899 with his partner Charlie Hoxsie, he built a two-story saloon called the “Dexter” which is now the site of the Nome City Hall building. Wyatt told his brothers that gold prospectors need to drink, gamble and enjoy the company of women so he referred to it as “mining the miners”. Wyatt’s ambition was to become Nome’s deputy marshal but was passed over for that. So he focused his attention on operating the Dexter and filing a few gold claims. A seldom discussed piece of Nome history is that one of Wyatt’s claims is called the “Mattie” which is named after his second wife Celia Ann "Mattie" Blaylock . Although there was never an official marriage certificate, she is listed on her death record as Mattie Earp also stating her cause of death a suicide from opium. Guests who visit Alaska Gold and Resorts have the opportunity to visit the Mattie claim and see what remains of the cabin that Wyatt used to work it. The Mattie claim is about half way up the trail to the Snowflake claim .
