Boothill Graveyard

Boothill Graveyard is one of the best-known cemeteries in the American West. Used for the first years of Tombstone, from about 1879 to 1884, it holds the graves of men and women who died of gunshot wounds, hangings, mining accidents, disease and more. The name came from the saying that many of its occupants died with their boots on. The most famous burials are those of Billy Clanton and Tom and Frank McLaury, killed at the OK Corral, but hundreds of others rest there, many in unmarked graves or under wooden markers made to replace those lost to weather and time. What makes Boothill compelling is its frankness. Many of the markers carry short, blunt epitaphs that sound like jokes but record a real death. The best known reads, Here lies Lester Moore, four slugs from a .44, no Les, no more. Others mention men hanged for crimes, persons lost in the town fires, and graves labeled simply as Unknown. The cemetery sits north of town on Highway 80, with a path winding through desert plants, cactus and rocks. It is a quiet, contemplative stop, and the surrounding desert makes you think about how thin the margin for survival once was in a mining camp.

Visiting is simple and self-paced. A gift shop at the entrance is traditionally the place to buy a printed guide to the graves, which helps match names to stories. The walk through the cemetery is short and mostly level, but the paths are gravel and dirt, and the ground can be uneven.

Summers are hot and shade is minimal, so go early in the day or late in the afternoon. Because it is a cemetery, treat it with respect: stay on paths, avoid touching markers and keep voices low. Admission arrangements, hours and the gift shop operation can change, so confirm with local sources before you go.

Boothill gives the OK Corral story its human cost. After you have heard about the gunfight, standing at the graves of Billy Clanton and the McLaurys makes it concrete. Historians note that Boothill was later replaced as the main town cemetery by the newer Tombstone City Cemetery, and that the grave markers visitors see today have been restored, so the site is part original ground and part careful reconstruction.

Read the interpretive signs and any guide you buy for details on which markers are original. Many ghost tour guides bring their groups here by day in separate programs, and some visitors come specifically for the atmosphere at dusk.

Allow thirty to sixty minutes for the walk, with extra time if you like photography or want to read every epitaph. The site is a good fit for history lovers, families with older children and anyone who wants a quiet counterpoint to the show business of the historic district. Pair it with the OK Corral, the Bird Cage Theatre and a ghost walk to build a coherent day around the gunfight, the town and the stories that followed. Carry water, wear a hat and keep an eye out for the occasional desert wildlife.

Visitors with a camera tend to do best in the low light of early morning or late afternoon, when the weathered wooden crosses and the Dragoon Mountains in the distance look their best. The cemetery has few benches and little shade, so keep your visit short in midsummer and bring a hat. Dogs on leashes are often permitted, though you should check the posted rules.