While most people associate Tombstone, Arizona with the infamous O.K. Corral shootout of 1881, the town’s story didn’t end there. The 20th century brought major changes, from the collapse of silver mining to a rebirth as one of the most iconic Wild West tourist destinations. This period was full of historical milestones that preserved Tombstone’s legacy and introduced it to new generations. Between 1900 and 2002, the town shifted from a struggling former boomtown to a thriving symbol of Old West heritage. Let’s explore some of the key events that helped shape modern-day Tombstone.
In 1904, the large-scale silver mining that built Tombstone’s fortune ended. Flooding and declining silver prices forced the Tombstone Consolidated Mines Company to shut down operations, leaving the town in an economic slump. Yet by 1929, the value of Tombstone’s history was beginning to shine. That year, the town was recognized as a National Historic Landmark District, cementing its importance in American frontier history. The once-booming mining town had now become a relic worth preserving.
The 1930s brought a new spirit of celebration with the founding of Helldorado Days in 1934. Created by locals to honor Tombstone’s rowdy past, the festival featured reenactments, parades, and frontier-themed entertainment. As interest in Old West culture grew nationwide, Hollywood played a big role in Tombstone’s resurgence. The 1955 debut of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp on television renewed public fascination, drawing tourists eager to see the place where legends once walked.
Efforts to preserve the town’s history accelerated in the 1960s and 1970s. The Tombstone Courthouse was converted into a State Historic Park in 1962, and the Tombstone Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1967. By 1972, the O.K. Corral site itself was partially restored and opened to the public, complete with live reenactments. These efforts not only protected Tombstone’s physical heritage but also fueled tourism and community pride.
The biggest cultural boost came in 1993 with the release of the film Tombstone, starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. The movie’s success reignited global interest in the real town and brought thousands of new visitors. In 2002, Tombstone proudly celebrated its 125th anniversary, highlighting how far it had come from its Wild West roots. Through decades of transformation, Tombstone has proven that legends never die—they just evolve. Today, it remains a living piece of history where the past walks alongside the present.