Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park

06/01/2026

☀️Starting today, June 1st, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park will be open from 9AM to 3PM. We are open seven days a week.
🚧 Our electrical upgrade required to power the new climate control system is still under construction. Most, if not all, construction *inside* the museum that could interrupt your visit is complete, however work outside of the museum continues.
🕰️ We do not have an estimated date for when the climate control will be up and running to keep our visitors, staff, volunteers, and artifacts comfortable - but it gets closer every day!
📣 We will be sure to keep the public updated as things progress. Make the most of your visit with these summer tips:
💦 Bring water!!!! Only water is allowed in the museum, no other food or drink, including gum and candy.
⏱️ Plan to visit the museum as early in the day as possible. Temperatures in the upstairs courtroom can reach the upper 90s at 3PM on extremely hot days.
⚠️ Know the signs of heat sickness and heat stroke. If you begin to exhibit symptoms, let a staff member know immediately.

Thanks for hanging in there with us as our construction and renovation work slowly but surely comes to a close.

05/29/2026

Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park on Saturday, July 4th, 2026. Engage with history and learn to play Faro like Wyatt Earp during our Faro Demonstrations, expand beyond the exhibits with our interpretive guides, and connect our area’s history to the American Revolution with our historian presentation.

Visitors can also view a "Dear America, Love Arizona" display: a selection of postcards from K-12 students in the state whose postcards reflect on what they love about Arizona and their hopes for our nation’s future as we approach America’s 250th anniversary. If you're bringing a student of your own to this special Independence Day celebration, be sure to ask for a Junior Ranger program!

All programs are included with paid museum admission. Faro Demonstrations are from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be located on the first floor. “Spanish Contributions to the American Revolution” by Lisa Howison begins at 1 P.M. in the historic courtroom. Please note that while our ADA ramp is now open, the second floor, including the courtroom, is staircase access only due to the historic nature of the building.

Please be aware that air conditioning is not currently available in the museum. Plan ahead by bringing water and expect temperatures to be around 80-85° in the facility. Food and drink except for water is not permitted inside the museum.

05/29/2026

We’re nominated in Best of Tombstone’s Museums, Tours, and Attractions AND for Best Customer Service! Be sure to place your votes before June 6th!
We hope you’ll vote for us!

🌟BEST OF COCHISE COUNTY 🌟

Voting is now open! Vote your favorite businesses in the area in categories such as Food, Shopping, Recreation, Health & Wellness, Automotive, and more for Best Of Cochise County!

⬇ VOTING LINKS ⬇

Sierra Vista: http://myheraldreview.secondstreetapp.com/BEST-OF-SV-2026/

Bisbee: http://myheraldreview.secondstreetapp.com/Best-Of-Bisbee-2026/

Benson: http://myheraldreview.secondstreetapp.com/Best-Of-Benson-2026/

Douglas: http://myheraldreview.secondstreetapp.com/Best-Of-Douglas-2026/

Tombstone: http://myheraldreview.secondstreetapp.com/Best-Of-Tombstone-2026/

Willcox: http://myheraldreview.secondstreetapp.com/Best-Of-Willcox-Pearce-2026/

05/28/2026

Some of our team recently explored the Arizona History Museum at the Arizona Historical Society’s Tucson location while visiting to do some archives research.
We were blown away by all of the incredible Tombstone artifacts on display! Our favorites were Sarah Herring Sorin’s wedding dress, Wyatt Earp’s revolver, faro objects, and lots of fascinating items and interpretation about Apache leader Geronimo. We also saw C.S. Fly’s camera, a travel trunk owned by Mary Cameron that might have made its way to the area that would become San Rafael Ranch, and a book titled The Arizona Sheriff published by the Studebaker automobile manufacturing company!
We might work in a museum every day, but getting to visit other museums reminds us of how much we love what we do and inspires us to spark that passion in our visitors.

05/27/2026

Did you know this about our beloved Courthouse?

Look closely at the iconic red walls of the Tombstone Courthouse! You’re seeing the foundation of history built by skilled Chinese laborers. In 1882, they made the brick and built the iconic Tombstone Courthouse after contractor Mr. Joyner struggled to find a crew for construction. Using sand hauled from Watervale (the original settlement when mining claims were first filed), these artisans crafted the very foundation of history right across the street from the site. In more recent history, when rangers and volunteers began creating the native plant and pollinator garden at the park’s ramada area, they found the soil to be very sandy, likely from the brick making in the late 1800s.

The Chinese community was a vital heartbeat of the Town Too Tough to Die. While many resided in "Hop Town" — the district between First and Third streets — entrepreneur Quong Kee broke boundaries. As the owner of the famous Can-Can Restaurant, he served some of the town's most notorious figures like Billy Clanton at his establishment on Allen Street.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to reflect and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) have played in our shared history. Visit Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park to see this legacy for yourself and learn more about prominent Chinese residents through the interpretive displays in the museum.

05/26/2026

‼️‼️Our phone lines have been fixed and our main phone number is working. Thank you.‼️‼️

Notice! ☎️ Our main telephone line is currently down with repairs expected Fri 5/29.
Until then, please use 520-457-2565 if you need to reach the museum by phone.
Thank you.

05/19/2026

From the Arizona Historical Society

Gambling was once woven into daily life across the American West, especially in booming mining towns where fortunes could be made—or lost—overnight.

This Faro casekeeper (AHS Collections T79.35.1) was used in the popular card game Faro, one of the most common gambling games of the late 1800s. Known for its fast pace and simple rules, Faro became a staple of saloons and gambling halls throughout the Southwest. The casekeeper helped players track which cards had already been played during the game.

As Arizona pushed toward statehood in the early 1900s, civic leaders worked to distance the territory from its “wild west” reputation. Anti-gambling laws soon followed, and by 1907 gambling had officially been outlawed in Arizona. Despite this, illegal gambling continued for decades before legalized gaming later returned through Native-owned casinos and state-regulated betting.

Objects like this reveal how entertainment, vice, politics, and economics all shaped life in territorial Arizona.

We’re highlighting objects like this from May through July 4 as part of Arizona and the Nation: Exploring U.S. History through Arizona Objects.

🔗 Learn more and read the article at the link in bio