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All the United States Arizona Tombstone The Bird Cage Theater
Gastro Obscura

The Bird Cage Theater

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

Tombstone, Arizona

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The Black Moriah Carriage which carted the dead to Boot Hill   http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianwallace/...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianwallace/...
The Booths that the ladies of the Bird Cage once plied their trade in   http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianwallace/...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinwright/...
A permanent poker game setup in the basement of the Bird Cage   http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianwallace/...
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
Bird Cage Theater in Tombstone   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Their list of all of the ghost shows that have stopped in over the years.   bazairea / Atlas Obscura User
  bazairea / Atlas Obscura User
original lighting fixtures   Avoiding Regret
Birdcage   creteBee / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  RBAR / Atlas Obscura User
  starrybluenight / Atlas Obscura User
  starrybluenight / Atlas Obscura User
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  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
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About

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 26 ghosts apparently still love to party at this historic brothel/saloon in Southern Arizona, and it 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.

Related Tags

Ghost Towns Old West Brothels Theaters Haunted Gambling

Know Before You Go

I-10 to Benson, take Hwy 80 South. Plenty of parking away from Allen Street. Admission is $14 for adults. They have military and senior discounts as well.Small dogs are permitted in the museum if they can be carried. Very well-behaved bigger dogs are allowed as well, if you ask nicely.

Community Contributors

Edited By

Avoiding Regret, Martin, CorpseLady84, mbison...

  • Avoiding Regret
  • Martin
  • CorpseLady84
  • mbison
  • RBAR
  • starrybluenight
  • creteBee
  • SemiruralYeti
  • bazairea
  • Jason Michael Walker
  • joeypesto

Published

September 3, 2009

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Sources
  • http://www.ghostinmysuitcase.com/places/birdcage/
  • http://www.legendsofamerica.com/az-tombstoneghosts2.html#Bird%20Cage%20Theatre
  • https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Bird+Cage+Theatre/@31.7119219,-110.0661034,18z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x86d73bf28a6abe6d:0x7416d6a77317de0a!2sDoc+Hollidays+Saloon!8m2!3d31.712036!4d-110.0655509!3m4!1s0x0:0xfcd5859e46671d93!8m2!3d31.7117989!4d-110.0653401
The Bird Cage Theater
533 East Allen St.
P.O. Box 248
Tombstone, Arizona, 85638
United States
31.711799, -110.06534
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Rose Tree Museum

Tombstone, Arizona

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tombstone

Tombstone

Arizona

Places 6

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Tombstone

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