What to do and see in Tombstone, Arizona (AZ): The Best Free Things to do

November 9, 2021 Marianna Hollaway

The very mention of Tombstone brings to mind images of the lawless Old West, gunfights at the O.K. Corral, epic feuds between the Earps and the Mclaurys and Clantons, Gold Rush fever and the promise of silver and gold. The heritage of the American West is still alive here today, where historic saloons, post offices and the famous Boot Hill cemetery stand restored and painstakingly preserved alongside more modern, tourist-focused recreations of period architecture.
Restaurants in Tombstone

1. The Four Deuces Saloon

101 S 3rd Street, Tombstone, AZ 85638 +1 520-457-3231 http://www.fourdeucessaloon.com/
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 11 reviews

The Four Deuces Saloon

2. Johnny One Dog's Tombstone Sarsaparilla

Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ +1 480-209-5996 http://www.johnnyonedog.com/about.html
Excellent
88%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 24 reviews

Johnny One Dog's Tombstone Sarsaparilla

3. White Raven Trading Co.

215 East Allen St., Tombstone, AZ 85638 +1 520-732-1048 [email protected] http://whiteraventrading.com/
Excellent
96%
Good
4%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 26 reviews

White Raven Trading Co.

White Raven Trading Company is located on Allen Street in the historic town of Tombstone, Arizona. We are just steps away from the OK Corral and happen to be located in what was once the home of "China Mary". Our gift shoppe carries a large assortment of oddities and curiosities, as well as rocks, crystals, fossils and more. The Museum of the Strange is located inside.

Reviewed By KiwiKiwiKeri - Los Angeles, United States

We visited Tombstone for the usual cowboy/ghost town/mining history, but our favorite place in the whole town was the White Raven oddities shop. Don't get me wrong, everything else in Tombstone was cool, but we were blown away by White Raven. They have all sorts of interesting items for sale in all sorts of price ranges. Geodes, crystals, fossils, jewelry, artifacts, something for everyone. Besides the great items, it's worth it just to stop in to check out their free "Museum of the Strange". It is a truly fantastic collection of real creepy artifacts, old-school circus sideshow gaffs, scary stuff, funny stuff, bizarre stuff. Even if you are just passing through or driving anywhere near Tombstone, it's well worth your time to stop in and check out White Raven. PS-They also have an adorable little cabin/airbnb behind the shop if you are looking to stay in Tombstone. It's clean and comfy and a great price. The owners, Graham and Carolyn, are super friendly and helpful and pointed out some great attractions to check out in-town.

4. Allen Street

Tombstone, AZ 85638 +1 520-457-9317 [email protected] http://www.tombstonechamber.com
Excellent
56%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,016 reviews

Allen Street

Allen Street is the main business and Historic District/National Registry of Historic Places of the famous Old West town of Tombstone, Arizona. It's full of history having once been the main thoroughfare of Tombstone during the boomtown days, so has certainly seen plenty of sights in its time. Allen Street became famous for being at the heart of the action during the time of the Old West. It saw plenty of gunfights in its day, and continues to be the primary tourist destination for tourists and Tombstone visitors. Today, it attracts people from all over who are looking for the excitement and enchantment of the Wild West days. The first stop on any trip to Allen Street should be the Tombstone Visitor and Information Center, where people can pick up a map of the area along with all the information that they need to plan their day. After that, they can head on down the Street to see what they come across. Allen Street is home to plenty of attractions, one of the most notable being the O.K. Corral. The O.K. Corral is the site of the most famous gunfight of the Old West which took place on October 26, 1881. It has daily re-enactments of the fight and is also home to the Historama, a multimedia performance showcasing Tombstone's long and varied history. After that there's plenty to choose from, including the Tombstone Ghosts and Legends Tour, guaranteed to give everyone a chill, or the Birdcage Theatre. Visitors can ride along the dusty road on the Tucson Stage Line or Butterfield Stage Coach, and can enjoy travelling as it once was with the road being closed to all other traffic. There are lots of options in terms of food and drink as well including the Crystal Palace Saloon and Big Nose Kate's, and there are countless other souvenir and gift shops along the Street for visitors to find a memento of the day. And, the Street is an attraction in its own right, with western re-enactments often being performed by the Six Gun City Players. Allen Street is open daily and entry to the road itself is free, however admission fees and opening times are sure to vary with each individual attraction. Be sure to check with the attraction first for their terms and conditions, and it's worth checking with the visitor center if you want to know when any staged gunfights and the like will be taking place. A trip to Allen Street really gives people a chance to see what life was once like in the Old West. With plenty of attractions to choose from, as well as re-enactments of famous showdowns, visitors will truly get a glimpse into the history of the time. And, with everything so beautifully preserved it really feels like you're back in the days of the Wild West, which will appeal to history fans and general tourists alike. Allen Street is a must-see for any visit to Tombstone.

Reviewed By Travellingphoenix64 - Phoenix, United States

You've seen the movie "Tombstone", right? Why not visit the place where that history actually happened? It's all here on Allen Street in Tombstone Arizona. There are no cars allowed on this dusty lane. Instead a stage coach or carriage can take you on a historical journey back to 1879, when a miner named Ed Schieffelin discovered a massive silver vein, and a mining camp called Tombstone was born. Or you can stroll along the wooden sidewalks, past historic places like the The Crystal Palace and The Oriental Saloon, and the bawdy (and haunted) Bird Cage Theatre (a terrific museum). You can visit the actual OK Corral, site of one of the most famous gunfights in all of western lore, stand on the actual spot where Virgil Earp was shot, see the area where Morgan Earp was killed, and visit the spot where "Curly Bill" shot Marshall Fred White. There are the amusing Ghosts and Legends of Ike Clanton's Haunted Hotel, wine tastings, plenty of shopping, and enough food and drink to satisfy the heartiest of appetites. Living in Arizona, I visit the Tombstone area periodically, and I always come away with something that I didn't know before. If you're looking for a Wild West history lesson on your next vacation, give Allen Street and the "town too tough to die" a try.

5. Arlene's S.W. Silver & Gold

404 E. Allen St, Tombstone, AZ 85638 +1 520-457-3678 http://www.arlenesgallery.com
Excellent
73%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 15 reviews

Arlene's S.W. Silver & Gold

6. Historic Gleeson Jail

Gleeson Road East of Tombstone, Tombstone, AZ http://GleesonArizona.com
Excellent
68%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
6%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 34 reviews

Historic Gleeson Jail

Reviewed By authormanuelas

I knew the Gleeson prison before it got restored and now and the owner has done a great job while keeping it authentic. Worth a stop when you do the ghost town trail visiting old ghost towns around Tombstone and Bisbee. Interesting history and small little museum room attached to it.

7. Tombstone Brewing Company

107 East Toughnut, Tombstone, AZ 85638 +1 520-222-6781 [email protected] http://tombstone.beer
Excellent
58%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
5%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 60 reviews

Tombstone Brewing Company

Tombstone Brewing Company is committed to bringing world class beer to the Town Too Tough to Die. Located in legendary Tombstone, Arizona, we seek to create an inviting, laid-back environment where people can casually gather for a pint as well as an exciting destination within a destination for beer lovers, crafting ales and lagers that range from the traditional to the far reaches of what beer can be.

Reviewed By AZBigD - Tucson, United States

I like hoppy and dark beers as does my lady. Weedy is a master of these styles and everything else beer related. Everything that I have tried here is just hands down the most righteous beer I have ever tasted. The extra plus is that its in Tombstone which is a totally cool place. If you like Corona, Bud, Bud lite, Coors, Pabst, etc., you more than likely wont like the beer here. If you love craft beer that is unique and flavorful, you don't have to be a Norse god, die, and travel to Valhalla to sample out of this world beer....its right here in Tombstone!

8. The Tombstone Epitaph

Tombstone, AZ +1 520-457-2211 [email protected] http://www.tombstoneepitaph.com
Excellent
38%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 497 reviews

The Tombstone Epitaph

The office of the Old West's most famous newspaper.

Reviewed By LillyLyons - Bemidji, United States

I enjoyed visiting the Tombstone Epitaph because of the historic information and newspaper equipment - printing press and ink plates. It was no cost to visit, and an easy walk on 5th street from the main drag: Allen Street. You can purchase newspapers too. I did not know that John P. Clum started the paper.

9. Big Nose Kate's Saloon

417 E. Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ 85638 +1 520-457-3107 [email protected] http://Bignosekatessaloon.com
Excellent
50%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
5%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 208 reviews

Big Nose Kate's Saloon

Reviewed By adisabato - Phoenix, United States

We were here for dinner while staying at Katie’s Cozy Cabins and visiting Allen St. The whole adventure was amazing! The food was good, but the rich history there was even better to see and hear about. There was great live music and you can see the locals really supporting one another - you just feel happy in there! The kids too thought it was super cool, but it could be a great date night as well.

10. Boothilll Graveyard

Tombstone, AZ 85638 +1 520-457-3300 [email protected] http://www.boothillgraves.com/
Excellent
48%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1,780 reviews

Boothilll Graveyard

Boothill Graveyard was the Tombstone City Cemetery from 1878 to 1884. It was not called Boothill until the 1920s. Its occupants ran the spectrum of all the cultures and nationalities of early Tombstone. Cowboys who "died with their boots on" lie next to housewives, business men and women, miners, gamblers, ladies of the "red-light district" and all the famous and not so famous occupants that contributed to Tombstone's early history. By the 1920s, Boothill had fallen into ruin with many grave markers lost or unreadable. A group of citizens in Tombstone and Cochise County began the task of researching old burial records, consulting with relatives, older residents, and using all means available to identify the occupants and mark the graves properly. The task took several years and the efforts of many to accomplish. This resulted in the graveyard being restored much as it was in the early years when it was the city cemetery.

Reviewed By Hafa44 - Annapolis, United States

We really enjoyed wandering through the graves and reading the markers. Wikipedia said that Lester Moore never existed but the very nice, friendly woman who sold us the tickets assured us that he was real and that a relative had visited last year. Interesting either way. We enjoyed it so much that we did end up spending more time than anticipated although it’s something you can spend as much or as little time as you want. Do take time to go down to see the Jewish memorial as well. I’m very glad we visited!

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.