The Ultimate Walking Tour of Tombstone, Arizona: History, Attractions & Travel Tips
There are some places you visit because they’re beautiful. Others draw you in because of their history.
Tombstone, Arizona, does both.
We have visited quite a few Old West towns during our travels, but Tombstone is one of the best preserved we’ve seen. Historic Allen Street has been returned to a dirt road, wooden boardwalks line the street, and vehicles are kept out of the main historic section.
Walking through town, it isn’t difficult to imagine what Tombstone might have looked like during the days of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, silver mines, stagecoaches and saloons.
And since Ed and I are both huge fans of the movie Tombstone, this was one Arizona destination we were especially excited to explore.
Getting to Tombstone
Our trip to Tombstone began as we continued south and west from Elephant Butte, New Mexico.
Along the way, we passed through Hatch, New Mexico, famous for its chile peppers, and continued through Deming before getting onto Interstate 10 heading west.
About 20 miles east of Benson, Arizona, we encountered one of the unexpected highlights of the drive: Texas Canyon.
Don’t Miss Texas Canyon
Texas Canyon is filled with enormous granite boulders scattered across the landscape between the Little Dragoon Mountains and Dragoon Mountains.
Some of the formations look almost as though someone deliberately stacked the boulders on top of one another.
There’s a rest area along Interstate 10 right in the canyon, making this an easy place to stop, stretch your legs and take a closer look at the scenery.
It’s worth stopping even if Tombstone is your main destination.
Where We Camped Near Tombstone
Because we’d recently experienced problems with our travel trailer axle, we decided not to boondock during this portion of the trip.
Instead, we found a full-hookup campsite in Whetstone, Arizona.
At the time of our visit, we paid only $14 per night, and the campground was roughly 20 minutes from Tombstone.
That gave us an inexpensive basecamp while keeping us close enough to spend plenty of time exploring the historic district.
Why Visit Tombstone?
Tombstone was founded because of silver, but its reputation was built on the colorful collection of people who followed.
Prospectors came looking for fortunes. Businesses opened to serve the growing population. Cowboys moved into the surrounding ranch country. Saloons, hotels, theaters, newspapers and banks appeared.
Then came the Earps, Doc Holliday and the conflicts that eventually produced one of the most famous gunfights in American history.
Today, much of that story can still be explored on foot.
Tombstone isn’t simply a collection of modern buildings decorated to look Western. Many surviving structures are connected directly to the people and events that made the town famous.
Walking Historic Allen Street
If you’re visiting Tombstone for the first time, Allen Street is the natural place to begin.
The historic portion has wooden boardwalks and a dirt street, and keeping regular vehicle traffic out of this section makes walking and taking photographs much more enjoyable.
There are shops, restaurants, saloons and attractions throughout the area, but don’t rush from one attraction to another.
Look at the buildings.
Many have stories every bit as interesting as the famous gunfight.
How Tombstone Got Its Name
Tombstone’s story began with prospector Ed Schieffelin.
Schieffelin discovered silver in the area around 1878. According to the story, he’d previously been warned that the only stone he was likely to find in this dangerous country would be his tombstone.
When he made his discovery, he named his first mining claim Tombstone.
The name stuck.
One of his early mines, the Good Enough Mine, was established in 1878 near what became the town of Tombstone.
As word of the silver discoveries spread, the settlement grew rapidly.
Tombstone’s Early “Canvas Village”
When the Earp brothers arrived around 1879 and 1880, Tombstone was still developing.
Many of its early businesses operated from tents while permanent structures were being built, earning the young settlement the description of a canvas village.
That makes the surviving buildings particularly interesting.
Within only a few years, this rough mining camp developed substantial hotels, saloons, banks, churches, theaters and government buildings.
Several of them can still be seen today.
Crystal Palace Saloon
One of Tombstone’s historic saloons began as the Golden Eagle Brewery, built in 1879.
The building burned during the devastating 1882 fire. After it was rebuilt, it became the Crystal Palace Saloon.
The Crystal Palace name survives today.
Tombstone suffered several major fires during its boom years, so you’ll notice this recurring theme as you explore town: buildings burned, were rebuilt and sometimes changed names or purposes.
Wells Fargo and Tombstone’s Stagecoaches
Wells Fargo was an important part of Tombstone’s economy.
The company handled mail, payroll and bullion, contracting with stagecoach lines to transport valuable cargo.
Those stagecoaches needed protection.
Shotgun messengers rode alongside drivers to protect passengers and cargo, and Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp all worked as shotgun messengers during their years in Tombstone.
It’s one of those details that helps put the famous names into the context of everyday life in a Western mining town.
The Tombstone Epitaph
Another institution dating back to Tombstone’s boom years is the Tombstone Epitaph.
The newspaper published its first issue in May 1880, originally operating from a tent on Fremont Street.
Today, visitors can explore its history and pick up a reproduction of the newspaper published following the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
For anyone interested in Old West history, historic newspapers offer a fascinating window into how people living through these events actually saw their world.
The Oriental Saloon
The Oriental Saloon opened in 1880 and was described as one of the most elegantly furnished saloons in the region.
Wyatt Earp eventually acquired an interest in the gaming tables there.
The Oriental was damaged by fire in 1881, quickly rebuilt and then threatened again during the major 1882 fire.
Tombstone’s saloons weren’t merely places to get a drink. They were centers for gambling, business, entertainment and social life, which is why they appear so frequently in stories about the town.
Big Nose Kate’s Saloon and the Old Grand Hotel
The building associated with today’s Big Nose Kate’s Saloon also has roots in Tombstone’s early history.
The two-story Grand Hotel opened in September 1880. It was destroyed during the 1882 fire and later rebuilt as a one-story structure.
In the 1970s, the building became Big Nose Kate’s Saloon.
During our visit, the owner was kind enough to allow us to bring General inside so we could photograph the beautiful stained-glass windows.
It’s always nice when a historic attraction is welcoming to a traveling dog!
Campbell & Hatch Saloon
The Campbell & Hatch Saloon and Billiard Parlor was built in 1881.
Its co-owner, Bob Hatch, followed the Earps to the famous O.K. Corral gunfight and later testified at the hearing that followed.
Only a few months later, another famous event occurred here.
Morgan Earp was playing pool when he was fatally shot.
Standing near these locations makes Tombstone’s history feel surprisingly close. These aren’t simply names and stories from Western movies. Many of the places where the events occurred are still part of the town.
The Bird Cage Theatre
The Bird Cage Theatre is another Tombstone landmark that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Built in 1881, the theater stood near the location where Marshal Fred White had been killed by Curly Bill Brocius the previous year.
Remarkably, the building survived Tombstone’s June 1881 fire.
Ed took the tour inside, and the building was fascinating.
If you’re interested in Tombstone beyond the O.K. Corral, the Bird Cage Theatre gives you another look at the entertainment and nightlife that accompanied the mining boom.
The Attempted Assassination of Virgil Earp
Another historic location is connected to the attack on Virgil Earp.
The Myers Brothers clothing store was still under construction in December 1881 when assailants used the unfinished building as cover to shoot Virgil.
Virgil survived but permanently lost the use of his left arm.
It happened only about two months after the O.K. Corral gunfight, during the escalating violence surrounding the Earps and their enemies.
Tombstone’s Historic Courthouse
The two-story red brick Cochise County Courthouse was built in 1882.
It housed the sheriff’s office, jail and courtroom and remained the county courthouse until 1931, when the county seat moved to Bisbee.
The historic building was eventually transferred to Arizona State Parks.
For visitors interested in the broader history of Tombstone rather than only its gunfighters, the courthouse is an important stop.
Tombstone’s Historic Churches
Not every surviving Tombstone landmark is connected to gunfights, gambling and saloons.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church was dedicated in January 1881 and became Tombstone’s first church. A larger church was built the following year, with the original building becoming the rectory.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church held its first service in June 1882 and is another important piece of the town’s early history.
These buildings are reminders that Tombstone was more than the lawmen and outlaws we usually hear about. It was becoming a community where people lived, worshipped, worked and raised families.
Schieffelin Hall
Schieffelin Hall was built by Tombstone founder Ed Schieffelin’s brother Albert and his partner.
It opened in June 1881 as an opera house.
The building was scorched during the May 1882 fire but survived and remains an important historic structure.
Today it is owned by the town of Tombstone and has continued to serve the community.
Tombstone City Hall
The historic City Hall building dates to 1880.
It originally housed one of Tombstone’s fire companies and later became home to mayors, marshals and other city offices.
It’s another good example of why it’s worth wandering beyond the biggest tourist attractions.
There is history throughout Tombstone.
The O.K. Corral
Of course, no first visit to Tombstone would be complete without the O.K. Corral.
The famous confrontation involving Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp, Doc Holliday and members of the Clanton and McLaury families has become one of the defining stories of the American West.
Movies have turned it into legend, although—as is usually the case—the real history is more complicated than the Hollywood version.
Ed toured the O.K. Corral attraction, which included a reenactment of the famous gunfight along with admission to the museum area.
If you’ve seen the movie Tombstone, it’s especially interesting to visit the actual town and begin separating Hollywood’s version from the places and people behind the story.
Tombstone Is More Than One Gunfight
The O.K. Corral may be what brings many visitors to Tombstone, but don’t make the mistake of seeing the gunfight and immediately leaving.
The town’s history is much larger.
Walk Allen Street.
Look at the old saloons.
Visit the courthouse.
See the Bird Cage Theatre.
Learn about the mines.
Stop at the Tombstone Epitaph.
Look for the buildings connected with the Earps and other people you’ve read about.
And spend some time simply walking.
That’s what we enjoyed most.
How Much Time Should You Allow for Tombstone?
You can see the historic district in a few hours, but if you enjoy history, we’d give Tombstone most of a day.
There is a big difference between walking quickly down Allen Street and actually going inside the historic attractions, reading the exhibits and learning the stories behind the buildings.
If you want to tour the O.K. Corral, Bird Cage Theatre, courthouse and other museums, you’ll need more time.
And if you’re anything like us, you’ll also spend plenty of time taking pictures.
Is Tombstone Worth Visiting?
For us, absolutely.
We’ve explored quite a few Old West towns, and Tombstone stood out because so much of the historic atmosphere has been preserved.
Yes, Tombstone is a tourist destination today.
But underneath the souvenir shops and reenactments is a genuine historic town filled with surviving buildings and connections to people whose names have become part of American folklore.
Being fans of the movie made the visit even more fun, but you don’t have to know Wyatt Earp from Doc Holliday to enjoy Tombstone.
Come for the Wild West legends.
Then slow down long enough to discover the rest of the town’s history.
We’ll see you down the road…and Over the Hills!
Continue the Journey
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