Tombstone, Mining city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Tombstone is a mining town in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, that retains its original 1880s street layout with wooden sidewalks and false-front buildings. The main avenue features saloons, storefronts with hand-painted signs, and structures built from adobe and timber that reflect the architecture of the silver rush era.
Ed Schieffelin discovered silver deposits in the desert in 1877 and founded the settlement two years later. The town grew rapidly as prospectors arrived, and by the mid-1880s it became known for confrontations between lawmen and armed groups that shaped its reputation in frontier history.
Daily gunfight reenactments take place in the streets, with performers dressed as frontier figures acting out scenes from the outlaw era. Local saloons and shops preserve the atmosphere of the 19th century, offering games and entertainment that recall the customs of silver miners and gamblers.
Walking is the easiest way to explore the town, as most attractions lie within a few blocks of each other. Guided tours depart regularly from the courthouse and provide context about the buildings and their original uses during the mining period.
The Bird Cage Theatre preserves more than a hundred bullet holes in its walls from incidents that occurred during its years as an entertainment hall. The underground section of the building still contains original gaming tables and bars from the early 1880s.
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