Tombstone

Aside from the Wild West atmosphere of East Allen Street, Tombstone's most popular tourist attraction is the old county courthouse. Tombstone was the county seat of Cochise County until 1929. In that year, when Tombstone's population had dwindled to only 86 people, the county government moved to Bisbee, and remains in Bisbee to this day. Today, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is the smallest state park in Arizona, but one of the most visited. The park only covers 1/3 of an acre. It consists of the courthouse, the grounds around it, a small building across the street that once contained lawyers' offices and a small picnic area next to the former lawyers' offices, between the south wall of the building and the edge of
East Toughnut Street, which is named after a mine.
The old courthouse is a handsome 12,000 square-foot Victorian building built out of red brick. It is 2 stories tall. This building, with its tall clock tower, still dominates the town. The old courthouse is now a museum dedicated to the history of Tombstone and the immediate area. The courtroom has been restored to the way it looked in 1882. Other rooms in the old courthouse house themed exhibits. For example, one room is dedicated to the mining history of the area, another room is
dedicated to cattle ranching, one room is dedicated to the military, one room has a recreated gambling hall from the 1880s, another room is devoted to the Apache Wars, still another room has a recreated saloon. There is also a room that features exhibits about the world famous Gunfight at the OK Corral.
Other items of interest inside the old courthouse include fine antiques that were brought to the town by horse-drawn wagons or steam locomotives, glass cases that display dolls and other toys that were popular in the 1800s, musical instruments from the pioneer era, a recreated attorney's office of the time, a recreated
post office and assay office of the Wild West era, and alot of historic photos, which was my favorite part of the visit.
Outside the building, in the back, is a gallows that was used to hang people with the noose still in place. It is rather macabre, but it is also an integral part of Wild West history, so I guess it belongs.
The railroad tracks near the courthouse have been pulled up, but the raised railroad grade is still in place.
Stagecoach rides are given daily on East Allen Street and there are frequent reenactments of the Gunfight at the OK Corral.
Tombstone's world wide fame is the economic lifeblood of the town. For such a small town, Tombstone caters to alot of visitors. About 2 million visitors per year visit Tombstone, making it Arizona's third most popular tourist attraction, after the Grand Canyon and Sedona.