In the summer of 1877 prospector Ed Schieffelin was working the hills east of the San Pedro River in the southeast portion of the Arizona Territory, when he came across a vein of very rich silver ore in a high plateau called Goose Flats. When Schieffelin filed his mining claim he named it "The Tombstone", after a warning given him by a passing soldier. By 1882, Tombstone had become a booming mining town with a population close to 10,000.

Tombstone gained much noteriety for lawlessness and constant conflicts between northern capitalists and southern cowboys. This climaxed with the famous gunfight at OK Corral - October 26, 1881. About 30 shots were fired in 30 seconds. Although only three men were killed during the gunfight, it is generally regarded as the most famous gunfight in the history of the Old West.

The Tombstone Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District. The town's focus on tourism has threatened the town's designation as a National Historic Landmark District, a designation it earned in 1961 as "one of the best preserved specimens of the rugged frontier town of the 1870s and '80s."

Arizona Entertainment Book
Get Hundreds of shopping, dining and entertainment attraction coupons for Arizona. Super tourism value.

Arizona Golf Card
Save 20% on admission to many of Arizona's best courses. Get Golf Card today and receive a free 1-year subscription to Golf Magazine!