As one of the original, and oldest, buildings in historic Tombstone, Arizona, the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is a must-visit on any Tombstone travel plan. This 142-year-old structure stands prominently on a street corner, just a stone’s throw from the infamous O.K. Corral (The O.K. Corral: Site of the Wild West’s Most Infamous Gunfight.). Built of striking red bricks in a Victorian style and laid out in the shape of a cross, the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park houses many historical artifacts significant to the Wild West, including original furniture, tools, weapons, and photographs. Most notably, it features a recreated gallows, reminiscent of the one used to hang seven men during its heyday. Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Built in 1882 at the cost of $50,000 (equivalent to $1.6 million today, based on 1913 inflation calculations), the courthouse served as the Cochise County courthouse until 1929 or 1931 (depending on the source), when the county seat was moved to nearby Bisbee (Bisbee, Arizona: “Queen of the Copper Camps”.). An addition to the rear of the building was made in 1904, making it 120 years old today. Despite relocating the county seat, the county maintained ownership of the courthouse, leasing it out until transferring ownership to the City of Tombstone in 1942.
The city then leased it to the Tombstone Restoration Commission, which restored the first floor and opened it to the public in 1956. To further protect this historic building, Mrs. Edna Landin, President of the Tombstone Restoration Commission, proposed to the State Parks Board to designate Tombstone Courthouse as an Arizona State Park. During the property transfer process, it was discovered that the land the courthouse sits on was still technically owned by the county and had originally been leased to the city for 99 years. An agreement was reached, and on August 1, 1959, the city transferred the courthouse, its contents, and the remainder of the 99-year lease to the State Parks Board. The lease is set to expire in 2041, so stay tuned! 😬
The Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park attracts approximately 40,000 visitors annually and is a must-see on many Tombstone itineraries. The park has limited hours, so if you’re planning a full day in Tombstone and want to explore the courthouse’s historic halls, it’s best to schedule your visit early. From June 1st to September 30th, the park is open daily from 9am to 3pm. From October 1st to May 31st, it’s open daily from 9am to 4:30pm. On Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, the park closes at 2pm and is closed on Christmas Day. Given these hours, it’s crucial to plan your visit accordingly, as the park closes well before 5pm, and there is a lot to see. Admission to the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is affordable, with tickets priced at $7.00 for adults (14+), $2.00 for youth (7 to 13), and free for children under 6.
We arrived in Tombstone around 9am, with our first stop being the O.K. Corral to purchase tickets for the 11:30am show (tickets sell out very quickly and can only be bought in person). After securing our tickets, we headed to the courthouse to ensure we had ample time to explore. We spent about an hour there before attending the O.K. Corral show, then returned to the courthouse afterward to continue our visit. This strategy ensured we had enough time and allowed us to fully appreciate both attractions.
Arguably, one of the main attractions at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is the recreated gallows in a fenced-in courtyard accessible from the first floor about halfway down on the right. The original gallows burned down in 1912 after the state took over executions from the counties. As mentioned earlier, seven men were hanged here, but surprisingly for the Old West, only on two separate dates: five men on March 28th, 1884, and two on November 16th, 1900. Some of these men are buried in the nearby Boothill Graveyard (Boothill Graveyard: Home to Tombstone’s Notorious Dead.). Next to the recreated gallows is a somewhat reconstructed holding cell, similar to the one used for prisoners awaiting their fate. While the metal bars are original, the wooden deck and beams supporting these bars are not. Visitors can enter and explore the holding cell, but climbing up onto the recreated gallows is prohibited.
The two-story museum within the historic courthouse is bursting with various authentic artifacts and informational exhibits from the Wild West heyday. These include money safes, saddles, doctor’s tools, wagons, a period sheriff’s office, artist drawings, a saloon and gaming room, a period lawyer’s office, a period courtroom, and countless photos of Tombstone residents and life during the late 1800s to early 1900s. Among the exhibits are a bell used as a fire alarm at the No. 3 Protection Hose Company firehouse during the 1880s, gambling cards, various mining artifacts, the jail cell bars from the 1903 addition of the Cochise County Jail, and interpretations of the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. It’s genuinely a Wild West history enthusiast’s fever dream.
One of the coolest spots was the period courtroom, which truly transported you back to the 1800s, offering a minimal glimpse into what life might have been like. Interestingly, courtrooms in the United States have mostly stayed the same since the 1800s. However, they now feature more carpets, softer seats, and air conditioning. Additionally, the museum houses authentic artifacts from other aspects of Wild West life. For instance, the post office exhibit illustrates how people sent and received mail that took three months to reach their intended destination and received money orders. Another fascinating artifact is the “Portrait Chair,” used by prominent Bisbee photographers, the Irwin Brothers, circa the late 1800s to the mid-1960s.
Overall, if you love history, the Wild West, or both, you will enjoy visiting Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park. Few places in Arizona or the entire Southwest house as much authentic Wild West history and artifacts in one location. Overflowing with Wild West treasures, it’s truly a history lovers dream. And while the gallows are no longer original, they still offer a morbidly fascinating glimpse into a time when public hangings were deemed appropriate – a concept difficult to fathom in today’s world. Despite its small size, Tombstone can be thoroughly explored in one day, and the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park should be an essential stop on your itinerary – I’d personally make it the first stop!
