What Boot Hill Cemetery Is and Where It Stands

Boot Hill Cemetery is a burial ground in Tombstone, Arizona, established in 1878 during the town's silver mining boom. It sits on a hillside overlooking the town and holds the graves of gunfighters, miners, Native Americans, Chinese laborers, and ordinary residents who died during Tombstone's frontier years. The cemetery earned its name from the common frontier practice of burying people "with their boots on"—a phrase used when someone died violently or suddenly, often from gunshot wounds.

The cemetery operated as Tombstone's main burial ground from 1878 until around 1884, when a new cemetery opened closer to town. During those six years, Boot Hill received roughly 250 burials, though the exact number remains uncertain because early record-keeping was inconsistent. Today, the cemetery is maintained as a historic site and museum, operated by a private foundation, and draws visitors from around the world who want to see where some of the Old West's most famous figures were laid to rest.

Key Takeaways

  • Boot Hill Cemetery was Tombstone's main burial ground from 1878 to 1884 and holds approximately 250 graves from the town's frontier era.
  • The cemetery contains the graves of gunfighters involved in the OK Corral shootout, including Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury.
  • Many graves are marked with straightforward wooden crosses or stones bearing only names and dates, reflecting the hardship and rapid turnover of frontier life.
  • The site operates as a museum with a gift shop and visitor center, and you can walk the grounds year-round during posted hours.
  • Boot Hill is one of the most visited cemeteries in the United States because of its connection to famous gunfights and the mythology of the Old West.

The Famous Gunfighters Buried at Boot Hill

The cemetery's most famous residents are the men who died in or around the gunfight at the OK Corral on October 26, 1881. Three men were killed in that shootout: Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury. All three are buried at Boot Hill, and their graves remain among the most visited spots in the cemetery. Billy Clanton was 19 years old when he died; the McLaury brothers were 18 and 20.

Other notable gunfighters buried there include Johnny Ringo, a gunslinger and outlaw, and various other men who died from gunshot wounds during Tombstone's violent years. The cemetery also holds graves of people who died from disease, mining accidents, and other causes unrelated to gunfights—a reminder that Boot Hill was a working burial ground for an entire community, not just a repository for famous outlaws.

Who Else Was Buried There and Why Records Are Incomplete

Beyond the gunfighters, Boot Hill received the bodies of Chinese laborers, many of whom worked in mines or on railroads and had no family in the area to claim them. Native Americans were also buried there, as were women and children who died from illness or childbirth complications. Miners who died in accidents, people who succumbed to typhoid or other diseases, and transient workers with no permanent ties to Tombstone all found graves at Boot Hill.

Record-keeping during the 1878–1884 period was haphazard. Many graves were never formally registered, and wooden crosses rotted away over decades, erasing the names of the people beneath them. Some graves were moved when the cemetery closed, and others were lost to erosion and neglect. Modern historians and cemetery staff have worked to reconstruct burial records using newspaper accounts, court documents, and oral history, but gaps remain. Roughly 250 people are thought to be buried there, but the exact number and the identities of all the deceased are not definitively known.

What the Graves Look Like and How They Are Marked

Boot Hill's graves reflect the poverty and urgency of frontier burial practices. Many are marked with straightforward wooden crosses, some bearing only a name and date carved or painted on. Others have small stone markers or iron crosses. A few graves have more elaborate headstones, usually for people with family or community standing. The markers vary widely in condition—some are original to the 1880s, while others are replacements installed during the cemetery's restoration in the 20th century.

The cemetery's layout is informal, with graves arranged in rough rows across the hillside rather than in the orderly grid typical of modern cemeteries. This reflects how burials happened as needed, without advance planning for the cemetery's long-term organization. Walking through Boot Hill, you see the physical evidence of how quickly the town grew and how many people died during those six years.

The Cemetery's Closure and Later History

Boot Hill closed as an active burial ground around 1884, when Tombstone's population stabilized and a new cemetery opened closer to town. After closure, the site fell into disrepair. Graves were vandalized, markers were stolen or destroyed, and the hillside became overgrown. By the early 20th century, Boot Hill was largely forgotten—a neglected patch of ground on the edge of town.

Interest in Boot Hill revived during the 1950s and 1960s as Tombstone became a tourist destination and the mythology of the Old West captured American imagination. The cemetery was restored, graves were researched and re-marked, and a visitor center and museum were built on the grounds. Today, Boot Hill is one of the most visited cemeteries in the United States, drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually. The site is privately operated and charges a modest admission fee to enter the grounds and visit the museum.

Visiting Boot Hill: Hours, Location, and What to Expect

Boot Hill Cemetery is located at 408 North Houghton Road in Tombstone, Arizona, on a hillside north of the town's historic district. The cemetery is open to visitors year-round during posted hours, which typically run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., though hours may vary seasonally. The site includes a visitor center with a small museum, gift shop, and restrooms. Admission is charged, and the fee helps maintain the grounds and fund historical research.

The cemetery itself is an open-air site with walking paths that wind through the graves. Most visitors spend 30 minutes to an hour exploring the grounds, reading the markers, and taking photographs. The hillside location offers views of Tombstone and the surrounding desert. The site is generally accessible, though the terrain is uneven and some paths are steep. Visitors should bring water, especially during hot months, and wear sun protection—there is little shade on the hillside.

How Boot Hill Fits Into Tombstone's Larger History

Boot Hill is one piece of Tombstone's identity as a frontier mining town that became famous for gunfights and outlaws. The cemetery sits within a larger landscape of historic sites, including the OK Corral, the Bird Cage Theatre, and various saloons and buildings from the 1880s. Many visitors tour Boot Hill as part of a broader exploration of Tombstone's history, using the cemetery to ground the stories they have heard about gunfighters and frontier life in actual people and places.

The cemetery also reflects how Tombstone's history has been shaped by tourism and popular culture. The graves of gunfighters are the most visited and most photographed, while the graves of ordinary residents—miners, laborers, women, and children—receive less attention. This imbalance mirrors how the mythology of the Old West has emphasized gunfights and famous outlaws while overlooking the everyday struggles of ordinary frontier people. Boot Hill, in this way, is both a historical site and a window into how Americans remember and mythologize the frontier era.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boot Hill Cemetery still used for burials today?

No. Boot Hill closed as an active burial ground around 1884 and is now a historic site and museum. No new burials have taken place there for more than 130 years. The cemetery is maintained for historical preservation and visitor education, not as a functioning graveyard.

Can I visit Boot Hill for free?

Boot Hill charges a modest admission fee to enter the grounds and visit the museum. The fee helps maintain the cemetery, fund historical research, and operate the visitor center. Prices vary, so check the cemetery's website or call ahead for current rates.

Are the graves of the men from the OK Corral shootout really at Boot Hill?

Yes. Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury—the three men killed in the OK Corral gunfight on October 26, 1881—are all buried at Boot Hill. Their graves are among the most visited spots in the cemetery and are clearly marked.

How many people are actually buried at Boot Hill?

Approximately 250 people are thought to be buried there, though the exact number is uncertain because early records were incomplete and some graves have been lost to erosion and neglect over time. Historians continue to research the cemetery's burial records to identify as many of the deceased as possible.

What is the best time of year to visit Boot Hill?

October and November offer mild temperatures and lower humidity, making them comfortable months for walking the hillside. Summer months (June through August) can be extremely hot, with temperatures often exceeding 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter is also pleasant, though mornings can be cool. Avoid visiting during dust storms, which occur occasionally in spring.