The Bird Cage Theater

An old saloon in the West filled with history, and according to some, a few dozen ghosts

Category Ghost Towns

Image of The Bird Cage Theater located in
Image of The Bird Cage Theater located in Image of The Bird Cage Theater located in | The Black Moriah Carriage which carted the dead to Boot Hill Image of The Bird Cage Theater located in Image of The Bird Cage Theater located in | The Booth's that the ladies of the Bird Cage once plied their trade in Image of The Bird Cage Theater located in Image of The Bird Cage Theater located in | A permanent poker game setup in the basement of the Bird Cage
Ghost Towns http://atlasobscura.com/category/intriguing-environs/ghost-towns

Tombstone, Arizona is home to many Wild West legends, and the Bird Cage Theater is no exception. Open from 1881-1889, the Theater was a saloon, a bar, a theater, and a brothel, with the ladies hung from the ceiling in crib style rooms named "bird cages."

Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday drank and played cards there, and many were murdered there as well. Bullet holes still show in parts of the stage and the walls.

According to the operators of the saloon twenty-six ghosts apparently still love to party at this historic brothel/saloon in Southern Arizona, and is a frequent stop for ghost hunters from all over the world. Supposedly shouting and loud music is sometimes heard at night, and some tourists have claimed smelling cigar smoke and whiskey in the air.

After years of being closed, the Bird Cage was reopened for tourists in 1934. The night tour is probably best to experience a spooky time, but perhaps even more interesting then the "paranormal phenomena" are all the wonderful original historical artifacts perfectly preserved since 1889.

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  • Hours Daily; Tours start at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 pm (Daytime tours also available)
  • Website Tombstone Birdcage Theater Museum
  • Address 517 East Allen St., P.O. Box 248, Tombstone, Arizona, United States
  • Cost $20.00
Map/Directions

Go to Google Maps

I-10 to Benson, take Hwy 80 South. Plenty of parking away from Allen Street.

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Comments

  • art shattuck& art shattuck October 5, 2009
    my wife and i spent three days there in august 09 and loved it i very much like history of the old west and mostly tombstone i read all i can find on this town but can not find who built the birdcage or who presently owns it could anyone please help me out art shattuck beme38@aol.com thank you
  • & Anonymous September 14, 2009
    The whole town of Tombstone is a museum, if you know where to look. I always enjoy visiting there. I found a great little website that lists everything there is to do in Tombstone. It even has a downloadable map! It helped me with my visit. It listed all the points of interest! The address is www.tombstoneweb.com.
  • & Anonymous September 4, 2009
    I was there earlier this year and I absolutely loved it!! If you're looking for authentic traces of the Wild West, this is the place to go. I've never seen anything like it.
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