PHOENIX – Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is celebrating 60 years of preserving Tombstone and Cochise County history with a full day of fun activities, exhibits, and entertainment.

Cochise County was voted into existence in 1881, and the city of Tombstone served as the county seat, with the Tombstone Courthouse serving as a county facility until 1931. It opened as Arizona’s first operational state park on August 1, 1959. In December 2003, the Ed Schieffelin Monument site, located three miles northwest of the city, was donated to Arizona State Parks.

Kids activities, special programs, and refreshments will be offered all day. Park staff, visitors and community dignitaries will create a new time capsule to be opened on the 100th anniversary. Admission is free for all visitors on Saturday.

“Tombstone’s story is told in this historic courthouse, and we’re proud to be able to celebrate its 60thanniversary as a state park,” said Bob Broscheid, executive director of Arizona State Parks and Trails. “We invite everyone to come visit to learn more about the Tombstone’s wild west and how this park fit into it all.”

Arizona’s first female attorney, Sarah Herring, practiced in the courthouse in 1893, and inmates were treated in the jail downstairs. The Mining and Entertainment rooms have exhibits and displays that showcase the history of the county, the city, and the courthouse.

After the anniversary celebration, make it a weekend adventure and visit the nearby parks – Kartchner Caverns, Patagonia Lake, and Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. Reserve your campsite or comfy camping cabin at Kartchner or Patagonia.

WHAT: 60th anniversary celebration!

WHERE: Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park

WHEN: Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.