Tombstone
Tombstone is a former mining town in Southeast Arizona. Along with Deadwood, South Dakota, Tombstone was America's most storied town in the wild frontier days.
Understand
"The Town Too Tough To Die" was founded in 1877 as a mining camp. There were seven years of gold, silver, and total lawlessness to follow, climaxing in the famous shoot-out between Wyatt Earp and the Clanton gang at The O.K. Corral. Today, Tombstone's main industry is tourism. It has several streets of vintage churches, saloons, and hotels from the 1880s.
- 1 Tombstone Visitor Center, 383 E Allen St, ☏ +1 520-457-3929.
Get in
By plane
Tucson International Airport (TUS IATA) is the closest airport to Tombstone.
By car
From Tucson, take Interstate 10 east to the city of Benson, about 1 hour away. Take Exit 303 through Benson to reach Arizona State Highway 80. Tombstone is about 40 minutes south of Benson by way of AZ-80.
By train
Benson is the nearest city with an Amtrak station. It is served by two routes: the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle.
Get around
Tombstone has only one road of importance: Fremont Street, which is part of AZ-80. With the exceptions of Boot Hill Cemetery and the Ed Schieffelin Monument, the historic attractions are all easily accessible on foot.
See
- 1 Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, 223 Toughnut St, ☏ +1 520-457-3311. 9AM-5PM daily. Former county courthouse, built in 1882 and now a museum dedicated to the history of Tombstone. $7 (adult), $2 (Youth 7-13).
- 2 Birdcage Theater, 517 E Allen St. 8AM-6PM daily. A former combination theater, saloon, gambling parlor, and brothel which operated from 1881 to 1889 and is now a historic museum. Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Diamond Jim Brady, and George Hearst were noted visitors. The building is said to be haunted. $20 (adults).
- 3 O.K. Corral, 517 E Allen St, ☏ +1 520-457-3456. 9AM-5PM daily. Originally a small horse corral, associated with the infamous 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral' and now a National Historic Landmark. It is the setting for a daily reenactment of the gunfight staged for tourists. Entry charge.
- 4 Boothill Cemetery (Boothill Graveyard), Hwy 80 (north of Tombstone). Many outlaws were buried here, with deaths not by natural causes. Heavily restored, entrance through the giftshop. $3 (adults).
- 5 Rose Tree Museum, 118 S 4th St, ☏ +1 520-457-3326. 9AM- 5 PM. Said to house the world's largest rose tree, as well as a historical museum. $10 (adults).
- 6 Ed Schieffelin Monument, W Schieffelin Monument Rd (Head northwest on W Allen St after it becomes a dirt road, marker will be on the right). Ed Schieffelin first discovered silver in the area, which eventually led to the foundation of Tombstone. A monument stands near the site of his original claim, resembling markers used by miners. Free.
Do
- Helldorado Days. An annual festival and street parade held in October. Free.
- Tombstone Rose Tree Festival, Rose_Festival@msn.com. 520-457-3326. A three-day festival held annually in early April, celebrating the blooming of the world's largest rose tree (see listing above). Events include musical and dance performances, variety shows, and a parade. Free.
Buy
Eat
- 1 Crystal Palace, 436 E Allen St (corner of 5th and Allen Sts), ☏ +1 520-457-3611. Established in 1881, this is one of the few buildings on Allen Street that survived fires that devastated Tombstone in 1881 and 1882. Virgil Earp used to have an office on the second floor. The Crystal Palace now offers decent steaks and burgers, and even good salads.
- 2 Longhorn Restaurant, 501 E Allen St, ☏ +1 520-457-3405. Daily 8AM-9PM. In 1881 Virgil Earp was shot at this location. The original building burned down in 1942, and was replaced with this replica. The restaurant is now known for barbeque pork ribs and steak.
Drink
- 1 Big Nose Kate's Saloon, 417 E Allen St, ☏ +1 520-457-3107. Daily 10AM-midnight. Established in 1880 as the 'Grand Hotel' and run by 'Big Nose Kate', the common-law wife of Doc Holliday. Ike Clanton and two McLaury brothers stayed here on the eve of the O.K. Corral gunfight.
Sleep
- 1 Tombstone Bordello Bed & Breakfast, 107 W Allen St, ☏ +1 520-457-2394, fax: +1 520-457-9099, tombstonebordello@hotmail.com. Built in 1881, this former brothel was once owned and operated by Big Nose Kate. Within easy walking distance of downtown. $79-$99/night.
Go next
| Routes through Tombstone |
Ends at  ← Benson ← |
W  E |
→ Bisbee → Douglas |
| Nogales ← Patagonia ← | W  E |
→ END |