3 Days of Old West History
3 Days of Old West History: Arizona played a central role in the story of the American frontier, and the echoes of that era still ring through its mining towns, ghost towns, and historic main streets. This itinerary takes you to the places where cowboys, miners, and outlaws shaped the history of the West.
Arizona played a central role in the story of the American frontier, and the echoes of that era still ring through its mining towns, ghost towns, and historic main streets. This itinerary takes you to the places where cowboys, miners, and outlaws shaped the history of the West. From the legendary streets of Tombstone to the copper mines of Bisbee and the haunted saloons of Jerome, each stop brings the past to life.
Over three days, you will explore some of the most authentic and well-preserved Western towns in the United States. These are not theme parks or recreations. They are real places with real history, where you can walk the same streets as Wyatt Earp, descend into mines that once fueled the Arizona economy, and explore buildings that have stood for well over a century.
Day 1: Tombstone
Begin your Old West adventure in Tombstone, "The Town Too Tough to Die." Head straight to the O.K. Corral, the site of the most famous gunfight in Western history. Daily reenactments bring the 1881 showdown between the Earps, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton-McLaury gang to life with impressive authenticity. The adjacent Historama theater provides excellent context about the events leading up to and following the gunfight.
After the O.K. Corral, visit the Bird Cage Theatre, a remarkably preserved saloon, theater, and gambling hall that operated 24 hours a day during Tombstone's silver mining boom in the 1880s. Bullet holes still pockmark the walls and ceiling. Walk up the hill to Boothill Graveyard, the final resting place of outlaws, miners, and settlers, where the headstone inscriptions range from somber to darkly humorous. End your day with a stagecoach ride through the historic district, passing Victorian-era buildings that line Allen Street while your driver shares tales of the town's wild past.
Day 2: Bisbee Mining Town
Drive 25 miles south to Bisbee, a former copper mining town that has reinvented itself as one of Arizona's most charming and quirky communities. Start with the Copper Queen Mine Tour, where you don a hard hat and headlamp and ride a mine cart 1,500 feet into the mountain. A retired miner guides you through the tunnels, explaining the dangerous and backbreaking work that produced billions of pounds of copper over the mine's 100-year history.
After emerging from the mine, explore Brewery Gulch, the historic entertainment district that once boasted over 40 saloons packed into a single block. Today the street is home to galleries, antique shops, and a handful of bars that carry on the tradition. Visit the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum, housed in the former headquarters of the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company, for a deeper look at the town's role in shaping Arizona's economy. The exhibits cover everything from the geology of the copper deposits to the labor struggles of the early twentieth century.
Day 3: Jerome, Prescott, and Goldfield
Start your final day in Jerome, a former copper mining town perched on the side of Cleopatra Hill above the Verde Valley. Once home to over 15,000 residents, Jerome was nearly abandoned after the mines closed in 1953 and is now known as "The Largest Ghost Town in America." Today it has a population of around 450 and is filled with art galleries, wine tasting rooms, and quirky museums. Visit the Jerome State Historic Park, housed in the 1916 mansion of mine owner James "Rawhide Jimmy" Douglas, for panoramic views and fascinating exhibits about the town's boom-and-bust history.
From Jerome, drive northwest to Prescott and stroll down Whiskey Row, a block of saloons and bars along Montezuma Street that has been the social center of this former territorial capital since the 1860s. The Palace Restaurant and Saloon, operating since 1877, is the oldest bar in Arizona. On your drive back toward Phoenix, make a final stop at Goldfield Ghost Town near Apache Junction at the base of the Superstition Mountains. This reconstructed 1890s mining town offers gold mine tours, gold panning, a narrow gauge railroad ride, and spectacular views of the legendary mountains where the Lost Dutchman's Mine is said to be hidden.
Planning Your Arizona Trip?
Many visitors who fall in love with Arizona on trips like this decide to make it home. Venture REI helps buyers find the right community, from resort-adjacent Scottsdale to family-friendly Gilbert to emerging west Valley markets. Frank Vazquez and team offer straightforward guidance with no pressure.
Explore Arizona Communities