Tombstone Courthouse
State Historic Park
Tombstone, Arizona, often called "The Town Too Tough to Die," is the most famous of Arizona's old mining camps. When Ed Schieffelin arrived at Camp Huachuca in 1877 and wandered off to prospect nearby, his comrades told him he would find his tombstone before finding silver.
Thus it was that when Ed staked his first claim, he named it "Tombstone." When rumors of the rich strikes made the mining camp a boom town, the settlement adopted Ed's name. Over the next seven years, the mines produced millions of dollars in silver and gold, before underground water forced suspension of mining activities.
During this time, with thousands of treasure hunters seeking to strike it rich, Tombstone gained a reputation as a town steeped in violence and lawlessness. This reputation culminated with the infamous Earp-Clanton Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 16, 1881. The Tombstone Courthouse was the first Cochise County Courthouse, constructed shortly after. Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is now operated by the City of Tombstone.
General Information
Rates & Fees
$5.00 per person; $2.00 ages 7-13.
Seasons / Hours
Open year-round, but closed Christmas Day.
Visitor Center
Open daily, 9 am to 5 pm MST.
Features
- Restrooms (Handicapped Assistance Provided)
- Picnic Area
- Elevator (for Handicapped Visitors)
- Approximate Elevation - 4,539 feet
Climate
| Month | Max. | Min. | Precipitation |
| Jan | 61.4 | 33.6 | 0.80" |
| Feb | 64.8 | 35.8 | 0.56" |
| Mar | 68.9 | 38.9 | 0.60" |
| Apr | 78.1 | 45.4 | 0.27" |
| May | 86.8 | 53.2 | 0.13" |
| Jun | 94.7 | 61.3 | 0.44" |
| Jul | 93.7 | 65.4 | 3.77" |
| Aug | 90.9 | 64.0 | 3.25" |
| Sep | 89.1 | 60.5 | 1.22" |
| Oct | 81.4 | 61.5 | 0.62" |
| Nov | 70.7 | 40.9 | 0.36" |
| Dec | 62.6 | 35.1 | 0.75" |
Things To Do
Tour the Courthouse, which contains antiques and artifacts concerning the history of Tombstone and Cochise County, then tour the town with its boot hill and numerous museums, including the infamous O.K. Corral.
The Tombstone Courthouse was built in 1882 after Cochise County split off from Pima County in 1881. Tombstone was chosen as the county seat because it was the largest town in the county with a population of 8-10,000 people. The building served as the Cochise County Courthouse until 1929 when the county seat was moved to Bisbee where it remains today. Some of the most notorious criminal cases were tried in the courthouse during Arizona's territorial period.
In 1959, after many years of non-use, the courthouse was placed in the state park system as a historical site. The state then restored and opened it as the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park. The courthouse presently houses a multitude of displays of past life in Cochise County including ranching, mining and gambling. The professional staff at Tombstone Courthouse SHP provides visitors with fact-based interpretations of the history of the area. The park is the only publicly-owned museum in the town of Tombstone.
Camping & Lodging
Lodging
A number of motels and hotels are available within a few blocks of the courthouse.
- Tombstone Office of Tourism
P.O. Box 917, Tombstone, AZ 85638
800-457-3423
Camping
There is no camping at the courthouse facility, but there are public and private campgrounds and RV accomodations located nearby. For more information, contact:
- Tombstone Office of Tourism
P.O. Box 917, Tombstone, AZ 85638
800-457-3423
- Arizona State Parks 602-542-4174
- Arizona National Forests 800-280-CAMP
Resources & Nearby Attractions
Resources
- DesertUSA Trading Post
- Wyatt Earp
- Nellie Cashman (The Angel of Tombstone)
Cities & Towns
- Tucson, Arizona: 73 miles northwest.
- Sierra Vista, Arizona: 24 miles west.
- Benson, Arizona: 27 miles north.
- Bisbee, Arizona: 24 miles south.
- Nogales, Arizona: 66 miles southwest.
- Douglas, Arizona: 49 miles southeast.
- Sonoita, Arizona: 35 miles west.
Parks & Monuments
- Coronado National Memorial: 44 miles southwest.
- Fort Bowie National Historic Site: 95 miles east.
- Chiricahua National Monument: 103 miles east.
- Saguaro National Monument (East): 68 miles northwest.
Recreation & Wilderness Areas
- Cochise National Recreation Area: 60 miles east.
- Madera Recreation Area: 51 miles west.
- Coronado National Forest: 35 miles west.
- San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area: 11 miles west.
Historic & Points of Interest
Tombstone
- Birdcage Theater
- Boothill Graveyard
- Historama
- Museum of the West
- O.K. Corral
- Camillus Fly Studio
- Rose Tree Inn Museum
- Schieffelin Hall
Contact the Park:
(520) 457-3311
Tombstone Courthouse
P.O. Pox 216
Tombstone, AZ 85638
-- Bob Katz
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