Settled in 1870, Shakespeare first started to boom when silver ore was found in the nearby hills. However, all good things must come to an end, and it came to very speedy ending for the town of Shakespeare when all of the silver quickly dried up. That didn’t stop the miners of Shakespeare. A rumor was started that diamonds had been discovered around the premises of the town, and the town started to boom again until everyone found out that there were no diamonds. The town dropped in numbers as quickly as they had increased once this realization was known. However, mining operations continued here until 1929 due to the Great Depression. This town was known for having no law. The only rule that existed was “if you killed someone, you had to dig the grave.” Because of this well-known fact and the reliable source of water, many outlaws are said to have walked the streets of this once existing town. You can tour the National Historic site of Shakespeare every weekend, or even schedule an appointment for a guided tour, but it is recommended that you call and check before heading that way. This is a perfect spot for those who enjoy learning about America’s history.