Arizona’s rich history as part of the Wild West can still be explored today through its well-preserved Old West towns. These historic towns offer a glimpse into a time of cowboys, outlaws, and prospectors, when the West was still untamed.

The most famous of these is Tombstone, home to the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Visitors to Tombstone can stroll through its dusty streets, which have changed little since the days of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. You can watch daily reenactments of the famous shootout and explore historic sites like Boot Hill Cemetery, where some of the Old West's most notorious figures are buried. Tombstone’s bars and saloons, like Big Nose Kate’s, transport you back to the 1880s.

Jerome is another Old West town with a rich history. Once a thriving copper mining town, Jerome became a ghost town after the mines closed, but today it has been revitalized as an artist colony. The town’s hillside location provides stunning views, and its ghost tours are popular with visitors interested in the paranormal.

Prescott offers another authentic Old West experience with its Whiskey Row, a street that was once home to more than 40 saloons. Today, Prescott combines its cowboy past with modern amenities, making it a charming place to visit or live.

These Old West towns allow you to walk in the footsteps of cowboys, miners, and outlaws, experiencing firsthand the history that shaped Arizona and the American West.