Ed Schieffelin had no hopes of striking it rich in Arizona. He made comment to his friends that his tombstone would be found before a silver strike. Soon afterward, word of Schieffelin's new claim quickly leaked out and brought thousands of prospectors to the area. And Tombstone it became!
The rough and rowdy mining town needed law and order. The Earp brothers were the ones to provide it. This famed group brought their own brand of law with them. Here in Tombstone, Boot Hill Cemetery contains the graves of nearly a dozen lawbreakers.
The two story courthouse, built in 1882, heard all of Cochise County's legal affairs. However, its history was short lived and closed its doors just 40 years later. Tombstone was another town that relied solely on mining profits.
The abandoned courthouse was rescued by the Tombstone Restoration Commission in 1955. Today, the courthouse contains historic artifacts and a tribute to the town that was too tough to die.