Boothill Graveyard & Gift Shop

We were on our way to Bisbee/​Douglas for a staycation when we took a detour through Tombstone. My father took me to Boothill in Dodge City, KS, so when I saw the Tombstone version, I made The Boy pull over.
I am not sure why people call this place a «tourist trap», it gives you what it advertised, is technically free, and on the list of National Historic Places. We opted to purchase the $ 3 guide which was worth it for the fun of discovery.
The gift shop has a lot of fun trinkets, post cards, drinks and snacks, books about Cochise County and Tombstone History, many types of fudge, and various Boot Hill souvenirs.
We spent around 45 min and could have spent longer there. Pretty cheap fun for it being free and historic.

Not sure what I was expecting, so the stars may not be fair. Walked through the graveyard and really was surprised at what a beautiful vista looking out toward the mountains presented. Interesting that the markers are rather newer, but for crying out loud, it is a tourist attraction. Free admission, but three dollars for a handout that talks about the graves.

The ladies were so nice here. I did like the location. I’m not sure if the graves are real or if this is just a tourist attraction. but fun either way

It’s the old graveyard, with a lot of history and it’s cool to see the old tombstones. Some of the headstones are really old, unique and also funny.

There is a good deal of sick humor to be found here, if one can find a graveyard humorous. Not PC by any stretch of the imagination, but that is also part of the attraction. Hopefully, the PC police won’t ruin this.
Walk through the graveyard and read the markers, some will make you guffaw, despite the tragedy of the circumstances, others will drop your jaw… plenty of «unknown» markers as well. Personally, I found my own marker «Gregory» that said I had died in 1882. My favorite was «Here Lies Les Moore, 4 slugs from a .44, No Les, No More» I understand the sense of humor was a direct result of the local Medical Examiner’s notes on the death certificates. Apparently the ME, back in those times, had a sick sense of humor with stuff like «His body was rich with lead, but his belly so full of holes he couldn’t hold his whiskey»
The scenery from Boot Hill, looking out to the mountain range to the North is incredible!
The gift shop is the typical tourist trap, buy if you want, or not… T-​shirts, hats, coffins, shot glasses, magnets, jewelry, books and more.

The main attraction here is the graveyard, which is neat to walk through as long as you don’t consider trampling over old graves a disrespectful act.
It’s free unless you choose to donate $ 3 for a guidebook which tells you a little something about each gravesite.
The gift shop is pretty sparse and, as you might imagine, most things are marked at the usual tourist-​inflated prices.
It would be nice, especially since this is the first stop before you get into Tombstone, if this place had an ATM. The Circle K just down the road and The Crystal Palace in Tombstone are the only places you can get cash.

A must see. If you’re driving through be sure to stop for 30 minutes or so and check it out. They also sell fudge.

irony
funny
guns
funerals
dead
bang
innocent
murder
hopeless
jovial
humor
gradeyard is a trip. majority of known folks were shot. couplr were hanged. handful of famous people.
entertaining site. most folks here perished in the late 19^th century (1880 to 1900). conveniently those got shot and died perished a few years after tombstone was officially founded.

Interesting stop right outside of Town. Stop either on your way in or out of town. Donate the $ 3 to get the cemetery guide. A interesting walk among the grave sites gives an unique glimpse into the rough and tumble life during the Town’s zenith. Life was brutal and harsh during that time. Justice was sometimes unven and swift. Other folks just got sick and died.

If you are visiting Tombstone, chances are there are 2 reasons. 1) to check out the OK Corral and the other is to check out Boothill Cemetery.
You enter the Graveyard by 1^st walking through a gift shop. Admission is free but if you want a map, it’s a 3.00 donation. A map isn’t really needed but makes for a nice souvenir if you are into that sort of thing.
The 1^st thing you will notice is the wacky gravestones. I wouldn’t believe the graveyard was real if not for the National Register of Historic Places sign out front. The tombstones say things like «Shot by a Chinaman» and «He was right. We was wrong but we strung him up and now he’s gone». It’s fun to look at in a mornid way. There is also the Tombstone’s of the Clantons and McLaurys from the OK Corral. Including 1 that says «Murdered in the Street’s of Tombstone». Also Fred White who in the movie was the sheriff shot by Curly Bill.
The entire tour takes about 30 minutes to read them all so go back in the gift shop and buy you a magent for the fridge or postcard. They also have Sioux City Sarsaparillas (it’s a good one) and Doc Holidays.(It’s like a Dr. Pepper but local).

Free admission but asking for donations of $ 3 to receive a map of cemetery. Excellent fudge!

Free admission to the gravesites of local legends of the OK Corral Shootout including: Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton. Can also visit gravesites of the local red-​light ladies you learn of at the Bird Cage. An extra $ 3 will get you a pamphlet with a layout of the graveyard. Skip it, it’s small enough to just walk and if you visit the rest of the town first, you’ll recognize many of the names from various plaques/​memorials/​museums.
Many of the graves are marked «unknown», and almost all of marked graves have epitaphs relating to the words «murdered» «killed» or «shot.» This is not your typical graveyard. On a side note, it may be awkward to take a young child as trying to explain an epitaph containing «suicide» will invariably get complicated.
Jewish graveyard and memorial below the Boot Hill Graveyard is not worth your time. There’s literally nothing there.
Gift shop available on site. Free parking. Free admission. Can’t go wrong. Just brush up on your history first so you know who’s who.

It’s hard to love a cemetery, or even like it a lot, but this here Boot Hill does hold some affection from me.
Why named, «Boot Hill?» Because, so many of the 250 people buried there in the 6 years it was open for business (1878 – 1884), died sudden, violent deaths and not peacefully in their sleep. Too, I like it for the doggerel poetry displayed on some of the tomb markers. Cases in point:
«He was Right,
We was Wrong,
but we strung him up,
and now he’s gone.»
and
Lester Moore
«Here lies Lester Moore.
Four slugs from a .44,
No Les, no more.»
Adiós to the Dearly and Wrongfully Departed.

One of the most interesting graveyards I’ve been in. The epitaphs are interesting, it is well kept and a must see in tomb stone!