If there's any place in Arizona that is filled with tales of the Old West, Tombstone would have to be it. The boomtown turned ghost town has seen an incredible number of characters walk its streets over the decades and it is even the final resting place for some 300 former residents.
Boothill Graveyard is the site of the original cemetery in Tombstone and has become an attraction in itself.
Established in 1878, several hundred people were buried in this desert cemetery for almost a decade. A new cemetery was created on another side of town in 1884 so most residents opted to have loved ones buried there afterwards and some were even disinterred to be moved to the new location.
The cemetery quickly fell into disrepair, with the site overgrown, markers lost or illegible, and some trampled by livestock.
In the 1920s, a group of citizens began a clean-up effort and worked diligently to identify graves. Today, the cemetery has become a tourist attraction for those looking to learn more about those who lived rough lives in this infamous town.
The cemetery is known for some famously interred bodies, such as these gentlemen who were killed during the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
You'll also find popular madams, business owners, criminals, saloon girls, and average boomtown citizens resting here as well.
Some, however, will remain unknown for eternity.
Some were unidentified at the time of burial and the details of others have been lost over the years.
The cemetery was also segregated with areas designated for Jewish and Chinese burials.
But the cemetery is also known for its descriptive and colorful epitaphs.
Brief yet vivid descriptions detail how most of the deceased perished.
Some of the epitaphs may even make you smile with the witty writing.
The current markers you'll see here are, unfortunately, not the originals. Most deteriorated rapidly under the blazing sun or were stolen over the years, leading to replacements being made.
As replacements were made over the years, details were added to the markers to help humanize some of the deceased.
Boothill Cemetery is located at 408 Highway 80 in Tombstone, just off the highway. You can find information about the cemetery’s hours on its website or Facebook page.
Want to read about another spooky place in the state? You can read about one particularly spooky town that is filled with restless spirits by clicking this link.
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