Tombstone
The Town Too Tough to Die
Tombstone is the most famous Wild West town in America. The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881 lasted just 30 seconds but created legends. Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton gang became immortal. Today, the entire downtown is a National Historic Landmark where staged gunfights occur daily.
Thirty Seconds to Immortality
On October 26, 1881, a feud between lawmen and outlaws exploded. Wyatt Earp, his brothers Virgil and Morgan, and Doc Holliday confronted the Clanton and McLaury gang near the O.K. Corral. About 30 shots were fired in 30 seconds. Three men died. The survivors became legends, their story retold in countless books and films.
Silver Made It Rich
Ed Schieffelin was told he'd find only his tombstone in Apache territory. Instead, he found silver. He named his claim Tombstone. By 1881, the town had 10,000 residents, making it larger than San Francisco. The mines produced $85 million in silver before flooding ended operations in 1886.
Too Tough to Die
When the mines flooded and the silver ran out, Tombstone should have died. But the county seat kept it alive. Tourism grew as the Wild West fascination spread. Today, Allen Street looks much as it did in 1881, with daily gunfight reenactments, saloons, and the original Bird Cage Theatre.
Timeline
- 1877 - Discovery Ed Schieffelin discovered silver
- 1879 - Founding Town established
- 1881 - O.K. Corral Famous gunfight: Earps vs. Clantons
- 1882 - Vendetta Wyatt Earp's revenge killings
- 1886 - Mines Flood Silver mining ended
- 1962 - National Historic Landmark Entire district designated NHL
Photos
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Fall and spring (summer is very hot)
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: Half day to full day
Admission: Various attractions have fees
What to See
- O.K. Corral (reenactments daily)
- Bird Cage Theatre (tours available)
- Boothill Graveyard (250+ graves)
- Allen Street historic district
- Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
Tips
- Gunfight reenactments daily on Allen Street
- Bird Cage Theatre tour worth the fee
- Boothill Graveyard is free to visit
- October sees Helldorado Days festival
Quick Facts
- The gunfight lasted about 30 seconds
- $85 million in silver was extracted
- Bird Cage Theatre hosted 24/7 entertainment for 8 years
- Boothill Graveyard has over 250 graves
- Ed Schieffelin was told he'd only find his 'tombstone' here
- The town held a 'hanging' every Saturday in the 1880s
Location
Address: Tombstone, AZ 85638
Coordinates: 31.7129, -110.0675