Things to Do in Tombstone, United States: Walking Guide

Tombstone is a historic frontier town known for its silver-mining past and its enduring connection to the American Old West. The town’s preserved churches, theatres, courthouse and gunfight sites make it a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in Arizona’s territorial history. Neywo also has a free audio guide for Tombstone, with 7 narrated places.

What to See in Tombstone

Tombstone’s main sights are close to the stories that shaped its reputation. Together, they reveal more than the familiar legend of the O.K. Corral: they show how a mining boomtown developed its public buildings, religious communities and entertainment venues.

Tombstone Courthouse

The Tombstone Courthouse is one of the town’s most important landmarks. Its architecture reflects the role public buildings played in giving frontier communities a sense of order and permanence. Today, the courthouse museum offers a look at Tombstone’s territorial history and its development as a major frontier town.

O.K. Corral

The O.K. Corral was a livery and horse corral that operated from 1879 to about 1888. Its name stands for Old Kindersley Corral, but its worldwide fame comes from the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

The famous shootout did not actually take place inside the corral. The confrontation happened on Fremont Street, in a narrow lot beside C. S. Fly’s photography studio, six doors west of the corral’s rear entrance. The site nevertheless became closely associated with the event, particularly after the 1957 film Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Visitors can watch a re-enactment at the corral.

The firefight at the O.K. Corral

The actual site of the 1881 firefight is one of the most significant places to visit in Tombstone. On October 26, 1881, lawmen faced members of the Cochise County Cowboys, a loosely organized group associated with cattle rustling and horse theft.

The confrontation lasted roughly thirty seconds, with about thirty shots fired. Three men were killed, three were wounded, two ran away and one emerged unharmed. The dead included the McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton, who were later buried in Tombstone’s Boot Hill Cemetery.

Seeing the real location helps separate the historical event from the later stories and films that turned it into one of the best-known episodes of the Old West.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

At the corner of Safford and 3rd Streets, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is the oldest Protestant church in Arizona. Built in 1882, the modest building has stood through Tombstone’s most turbulent years and remains an important part of the town’s architectural history.

Schieffelin Hall

Schieffelin Hall has stood in Tombstone since 1881 and is the largest standing adobe structure still in existence in the American Southwest. Albert Schieffelin, brother of Tombstone founder Ed Schieffelin, built it with William Harwood.

The hall was designed as an opera house, theatre, recital hall and meeting place. Its adobe construction makes it a particularly notable example of the building traditions associated with the American Southwest.

Bird Cage Theatre

The Bird Cage Theatre opened in December 1881 as both a theatre and a saloon. It entertained miners and residents during Tombstone’s silver-boom years, operating intermittently from 1881 until 1894.

The theatre’s history followed the fortunes of the local mines. When the Goodenough mine and other silver mines closed, Tombstone’s economy suffered, and the theatre shut down in 1892. After standing empty for decades, the building reopened as a coffee shop in 1934 before eventually being preserved as the museum visitors can see today.

Sacred Heart Church

Established in 1881, Sacred Heart Church was the first church of any denomination in Tombstone. At the time, it was only the sixth Catholic church in the Arizona Territory.

The current building dates from 1882 and is the oldest known surviving frame church in Arizona. Its courtyard provides a quiet contrast to the town’s dusty frontier atmosphere, with notably large rose bushes behind the church.

Exploring Tombstone on Foot

A Tombstone self-guided walking tour is a practical way to connect the town’s historic places in one route. The walk links the courthouse, the O.K. Corral, the firefight site, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Schieffelin Hall, the Bird Cage Theatre and Sacred Heart Church.

Tombstone is part of Arizona, a state whose history extends well beyond its frontier towns. If you are continuing through the region, you can also explore Tucson or Phoenix.

Download Neywo and Explore Tombstone at Your Own Pace

Neywo offers one walking tour in Tombstone: a 1.41-kilometre route lasting about 58 minutes, with 7 narrated stops. It includes the Tombstone Courthouse, O.K. Corral, the firefight site, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Schieffelin Hall, Bird Cage Theatre and Sacred Heart Church.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it. You can walk at your own pace, without joining a group or following a schedule, and the narration is available in 11 languages. Download Neywo’s free Tombstone audio guide and explore the town through the stories connected to its streets and historic buildings.