List of historic properties in Tombstone, Arizona explained

Settlement Type:Town
List of historic properties
in Tombstone, Arizona
Mapsize:150px

This is a list of historic properties in Tombstone, Arizona, which includes a photographic gallery of some of the remaining historic structures. The majority of these structures are in the Tombstone Historic District which was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on October 15, 1966. The gallery includes the Sacred Heart Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the Tombstone City Hall, and the Tombstone Courthouse, among many other historic structures. The historic Boot Bill Graveyard is also included here, with images of the graves of some of the town's notable internees; however, the graveyard was specifically excluded from the NRHP historic district due to its lack of historic integrity.

Brief history

Tombstone was a mining town founded in 1879 by Ed Schieffelin. Schieffelin was a prospector who laid claim to what became one of the biggest silver mines in Pima County, Arizona Territory. The mine was named the Schieffelin Mine. Schieffelin, together with some partners, owned or had interest in the Contention Mine and the Tombstone Mining and Milling Company, which owned the Tough Nut Mine. Prospectors and business entrepreneurs began to settle the town after news spread of the silver strike.[1] [2]

On October 26, 1881, Tombstone gained national notoriety with the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral involving the brothers Wyatt, Morgan, and Virgil Earp (the town marshal and a deputy U.S. marshal), joined by Doc Holliday, against Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, and Billy Claiborne, members of an outlaw group called the Cochise County Cowboys.[3] [4]

One of Tombstones best known structures is the historic Bird Cage Theatre. The theatre provided the citizens of the town with entertainment including live performances, liquor, prostitutes, and poker games. The longest poker game in history was played in the basement of the theater. Players had to pay $1,000 for a seat at the table. Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, George Hearst, Diamond Jim Brady, and Adolphus Busch were some of the notable players. The poker game was played continuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for eight years from 1881 to 1889. Approximately $10 million was exchanged in the game through those eight years, and the Bird Cage retained ten percent of that money.[5] [6]

The structures along Allen Street are included in the Tombstone Historic District, which was declared a National Historic Landmark on July 4, 1961.[7] The district was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966, reference #66000171.[3]

Structures and places of historical interest

Tombstone Historic District

The following are the major, registered structures in the Tombstone Historic District:

Other structures within the boundaries of the Tombstone Historic District, along Allen, Fremont, and Toughnut Streets:[3]

The following religious buildings have individual NRHP listings:

Other structures of historical interest

Boot Hill Graveyard

Further reading

See also

Notes and References

  1. "Arizona Pioneers' Historical Society". Arizoniana, 1960, p. 17
  2. "The Schieffelin Family". Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
  3. Web site: [{{NHLS url|id=66000171}} Tombstone – National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination ]. February 1978 . Marilyn Larew . . February 21, 2020.
  4. Web site: [{{NHLS url|id=66000171|photos=y}} Tombstone – Accompanying 14 photos, 1 from 1880, 13 undated ]. National Park Service . February 21, 2020.
  5. https://comanchenationentertainment.com/2016/10/longest-poker-game/ The Longest Poker Game
  6. http://www.amwest-travel.com/awt_tombstone2.html Tombstone, Arizona – The Old West's Most Historic Town The Bird Cage Theater
  7. Web site: Tombstone Historic District . 2007-09-27 . National Historic Landmark summary listing . National Park Service . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071030073543/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=88&ResourceType=District . 2007-10-30.
  8. https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/sn95060905 Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records: State Library of Arizona
  9. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=72000196}} Tombstone Courthouse – National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form ]. May 22, 1970 . Wallace Yegors . National Park Service . February 22, 2020.
  10. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=72000195}} Tombstone City Hall – National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form ]. July 26, 1971 . Robert Fink . National Park Service . February 22, 2020.
  11. http://www.tombstonetimes.com/stories/chinese.html Chinese Residents in Tombstone
  12. https://truewestmagazine.com/what-do-you-know-about-the-bella-union-opera-house-in-tombstone-arizona/ Bella Union Saloon and Opera House
  13. http://www.tombstonetimes.com/stories/oriental.html Tombstone Times
  14. http://bignosekates.info/longhorn.html Longhorn Restaurant
  15. http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arizona/az-oldest-restaurant/ The Oldest Restaurant In Arizona Has A Truly Incredible History
  16. Web site: Bars in Tombstone, AZ . Karen Sprinkles . n.d. . traveltips.usatoday.com . Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. . February 22, 2020.
  17. Web site: Vogans Alley Bar . n.d. . chamberofcommerce.com . February 22, 2020.
  18. http://www.legendsofamerica.com/law-camillusfly.html Fly's Photography Gallery
  19. http://bignosekates.info/history2.html Tombstone History
  20. http://tombstone1880.com/silvernugget/ Silver Nugget
  21. Web site: Allen English Home, Adobe Home Built in 1882 . March 15, 2019 . hmdb.org . February 22, 2020.
  22. Web site: 304 E Toughnut St Tombstone AZ . n.d. . realtor.com . Move, Inc., a subsidiary of News Corp. . February 22, 2020.
  23. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=02000032}} Sacred Heart Church – National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form ]. January 15, 2001 . Sally Alves . National Park Service . February 22, 2020.
  24. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=71000111}} St. Paul's Episcopal Church – National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form ]. February 17, 1971 . Robert Fink . National Park Service . February 22, 2020.
  25. https://www.loc.gov/item/fsa2000017733/PP/ Monument to Ed Schieffelin who discovered the mineral deposits at Tombstone, Arizona
  26. The Silver King: Ed Schieffelin, Prospector . Richard E. . Moore . Oregon Historical Quarterly. 87 . 4 . Winter 1986 . 367–387 . 20614087 .
  27. http://www.tombstoneschools.org/About_THS Original Tombstone High School
  28. Web site: Legends of the Judiciary . Arizona Judicial Branch . August 20, 2017.
  29. http://www.wyattearpexplorers.com/wyatts-house.html Wyatt Earp's House
  30. Tombstone Western Heritage Museum
  31. https://www.azwhf.org/inductions/inducted-women/sarah-herring-sorin-1861-1914/ Arizona Women's Hall of Fame
  32. http://www.interment.net/data/us/az/cochise/boothill/boothill.htm Boothill Graveyard
  33. http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-johnheath.html Old West Legends: John Heath and the Bisbee Massacre