Essential Stops in Tombstone

Tombstone, Arizona, isn’t just another ghost town preserved for tourists. It’s the stage where the Wild West earned its legend. The air carries the sound of spurred boots and laughter spilling from saloon doors. Wooden boardwalks line Allen Street, where costumed cowboys and lawmen reenact a history that refuses to fade. You can wander from one side of town to the other and still feel the echo of 1881 in every creaking floorboard and puff of desert dust.

To help you get the most out of your visit to the "Town Too Tough to Die," we've compiled this list of essential stops and iconic attractions. From the world's most famous gunfight site to the rowdiest theater in the West, here's everything you need to see when you roam Tombstone.

The O.K. Corral Historic Complex

If Tombstone had a beating heart, it would be the O.K. Corral. This is where Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton gang faced off in a 30-second gunfight that turned into 150 years of legend. The reenactments happen three times daily and tickets often sell out.

Beyond the shootout, you’ll find C.S. Fly’s Photo Gallery with rare portraits of Geronimo and his warriors, and the Historama, a quirky multimedia show narrated by Vincent Price that covers Tombstone’s rise and fall. Together they turn this dusty plot of land into a storybook of the Old West.

The Bird Cage Theatre

Step through the doors of the Bird Cage Theatre and you’ll feel like you’ve walked into a preserved scandal. This was Tombstone’s most notorious night spot, once described as “the wickedest place between the Barbary Coast and Basin Street.” The building remains almost exactly as it was left. Bullet holes mark the walls, poker chips remain on the tables, and faded velvet curtains hang over the famous balcony boxes where guests once watched the action below.

It’s part saloon, part theatre, part museum, and completely authentic. History buffs will love it, but ghost hunters swear the energy lingers. If you like your history gritty, this is where you’ll find it.

Boothill Graveyard

No trip to Tombstone is complete without paying respects at Boothill Graveyard. The name says it all: most of the people buried here “died with their boots on.” You’ll find the graves of the McLaurys and Billy Clanton from the O.K. Corral gunfight, along with outlaws, drifters, and innocents caught in crossfire. Some epitaphs are poetic, others darkly funny. One reads, “Here lies Lester Moore, four slugs from a .44, no Les, no more.”

It’s a short drive or trolley ride from Allen Street and offers sweeping desert views that contrast sharply with the wild lives remembered on the headstones.

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park

The red-brick courthouse may not sound exciting next to gunfights and ghost stories, but it’s where Tombstone’s real history lives. Inside this beautifully restored Victorian building, you’ll find exhibits on silver mining, local politics, and the trials that followed the O.K. Corral. It’s a quieter stop, offering context for the chaos that made Tombstone famous.

If you love museums that feel personal rather than polished, this one tells its story with the pride of a survivor.

Saloon Life: Grab a Drink and a Story

After all that history, you'll need a seat and a sarsaparilla, or perhaps something stronger. Allen Street is home to several classic saloons that still carry the spirit of their 19th-century roots.

Big Nose Kate’s Saloon is the most popular, named after Doc Holliday’s feisty girlfriend. It sits where the Grand Hotel once stood and offers live music, hearty food, and bartenders who could probably outshoot you.

If you prefer something a bit more polished, The Crystal Palace Saloon shines with a restored bar and old photos lining the walls. Either way, you’re drinking where legends once did.

Practical Tips for Roaming Tombstone

Take your time on Allen Street. Slow down, wander the wooden boardwalks, and peek into the small museums and souvenir shops. Costumed locals add life to the scene, and there’s always a spot for a photo with a lawman or outlaw.

Catch a ride. The stagecoach and trolley tours are worth every penny for the narrated stories and local gossip. They’re a great way to see the town before exploring on foot.

Beat the heat. Start your day mid-morning to enjoy the first gunfight show and to stay ahead of both the crowds and the Arizona sun.

Before You Ride Off

Tombstone proves that legends never truly disappear. What began as a mining town of dust, danger, and dreams has become a living museum where the Old West still walks. Every gunfight, saloon, and gravestone keeps the story alive for another generation of travelers.

It’s an easy day trip from Tucson, but the history runs deep enough to fill a lifetime of curiosity. To keep exploring Arizona’s past, dive deeper with the collection of books from Roam Arizona. You can find more stories of the people, towns, and landscapes that built the state’s untamed legacy.