Experience the Old West in Arizona

 

There are no states with more old western towns than Arizona. The Grand Canyon State is notorious for its plethora of Old West locale, and, depending on who you ask, is how the state came to be. Some versions of the state's origin romanticized these small cowboy towns, while others chalk it up to a pretty violent period in history.

Either way, these stories paint the picture that Arizona continues to carry today. Thankfully, you can visit this time gone by safely, sans the standoff gunfights or access to a time machine. Here's a look at a handful of those Old West towns in Arizona, where you can experience a slice of life on the frontier.

1. Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum

Arizona’s frontier history was heavily influenced by the mining industry. The Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum offers a glimpse into the working life in the mines, which is made even more vibrant with a mine cart tour led by former miners. The museum is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tickets cost $10 per person.

2.  Castle Dome Mining Museum - Yuma

Located a reasonable distance north of Yuma, Castle Dome Mine Museum is a reconstructed version of the old Castle Dome town that is now submerged in the Colorado River. You’ll find actual artifacts from the town and get an idea of what life was like on the frontier.

3.  Fort Bowie National Historic Site - Bowie

One of the many forts constructed by the U.S. Army during a series of intense campaigns against Indigenous peoples in the mid-1800s, only remnants of the old adobe walls exist today. There is also an on-site visitor center, the ruins of an old stagecoach stop, and occasional re-enactments. Reserve a day pass to visit the site grounds and surrounding park through the National Park's website.

4.  Goldfield Ghost Town - Apache Junction

Simply driving through the desert will leave you daydreaming about what life was like in one of the most fascinating Old West towns in Arizona—cowboys and duels at high noon…the whole shebang. Luckily, there’s one place that turns this imagination into reality: Goldfield Ghost Town. This reconstructed ghost town attraction sits near the actual Goldfield location and offers a classic look of a Western town, complete with tours and a chance to pan for gold, too.

5.  Heard Museum - Phoenix

This iconic and renowned museum focuses on the Indigenous peoples and their cultures both today and historically. Several of the exhibits and occasional lectures also offer compelling narratives about how American encroachment impacted the lives of Indigenous people during this time period. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and general admission is $26 for adults.

6.  Hubbell Trading Post - Ganado

Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, Arizona is one of the best examples of the trading posts commonly found in the Old West. The post, located on the Navajo Nation, was also a key place for trading and the development of Navajo weaving styles. You can walk through the site, purchase some goods (it still operates as it did in the old days), and take a tour of the old homestead while there.

7.  Jerome 

It's difficult to pick one spot here that represents the Old West, so we’re just including the entire town of Jerome. It’s a perfect example of what boomtowns in the late-nineteenth century resembled, and the haunted stories will remind you of the rough history of such a place. What do you think: is Jerome one of the creepiest ghost towns in Arizona?

8.  Museum of the West - Scottsdale

For years, Scottsdale has called itself the "West’s Most Western Town," and this is one example of that self-designation. This museum is dedicated to capturing the intricacies of Western life, past and present, through exhibitions, presentations, and storytelling opportunities. The Museum of the West is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $28 per adult.

9.  Oatman

This little town, located just off Route 66, has managed to live several lives, including that of a late boomtown shortly before Arizona became a state in 1912. Today, it is known for its wandering wild burros, Hollywood patrons (do the names Clark Gable and Carole Lombard ring a bell?), and Route 66 souvenirs. It's certainly worth a stop on your road trip if you're driving by.

10.  Old Tucson Studios

Watch a Western film and you’re bound to encounter a moment featuring the iconic Old Tucson Studios movie set, including productions like "Arizona," episodes of "Bonanza," and "McLintock." A visit here will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the set’s movie history, plenty of shows, and history presentations and demonstrations. The studio is open for tours daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are about $25 per person.

11.  Pioneer Living History Museum - Phoenix

Sometimes it can be difficult to imagine what life must have been like for our ancestors. Time makes old lifestyles seem so far removed, until you realize there are only a few short generations separating us from life on the frontier. The Pioneer Living History Museum reminds us of that: It's is a collection of reconstructed buildings that form a little Western town, including a couple of little homes. It’s a popular spot for school field trips with an emphasis on life in Arizona’s territorial period.

The musuem is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

12.  Rawhide Wild West Town - Chandler

A Western-themed amusement park, Rawhide has attractions such as live gun shows, gold panning, and chances to ride horses or burros. They also have dining options like a steakhouse, saloon, and a pizza parlor for the kids (even though pizza wasn’t technically part of frontier diets...). You can truly feel like you've gone back in time in one of the most immersive old western cowboy towns in Arizona.

13.  San Xavier del Bac - Tucson

Arizona’s San Xavier del Bac, also known as the White Dove of the Desert, is a beautiful example of Spanish colonial architecture and is one of the oldest European structures in the country. There’s plenty of history—both good and bad—contained within these mission walls, and it is a place that certainly earns a spot on this list. The mission is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

14.  Tombstone 

When people think of the Old West, Tombstone is certainly one of the places that immediately comes to mind. The town has some pretty wil history, with outlaws that ruled the land and standoffs at O.K. Corral. It's clear why so many Western movies were based off the vibe of this infamous land.

15.  Tumacacori National Historic Park

Another old Spanish mission in southern Arizona, this one isn’t quite in the same condition as San Xavier due to the mission’s abandonment in the mid-1800s. In any case, it still makes an interesting spot to visit to see what Spanish colonial life was like and to learn about the turbulent relationship Spaniards and Indigenous people had. Go on a tour of the Tumacacori National Historic Park, and you'll see what we mean. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry costs $10 per person.

16.  Whiskey Row - Prescott

After a block of buildings was destroyed in a 1900 fire, this notoriously haunted spot was rebuilt, and the large number of saloons led to the street’s nickname, Whiskey Row. This spot became a focal point of the city, which continues to this day—the site is host to several Western shows and staged shootouts.

 

Article from Only in Arizona