The Bird Cage Theatre

The Birdcage Theatre – Tombstone, Arizona If Tombstone is the heart of the Wild West, then the Birdcage Theatre is its cathedral. Think of it as the Lambeau Field of football or the Carnegie Hall of music—the place where history, legend, and atmosphere all come together. Many museums claim “nothing has been touched” over the years, but few deliver. The Birdcage does—and in spades. Walking inside feels like stepping directly into the 1880s. Hundreds of authentic items remain in place from nearly 150 years ago. The rooms, the furniture, even the air carries the weight of the stories that shaped the American West. It’s not just a museum—it’s living history. On a personal note, I experienced something here I’ve never felt elsewhere. While exploring the basement on a daytime self-guided tour, I had a haunting encounter I can’t easily explain. I’m not someone who buys into things quickly, but this one gave me chills. If you’re interested in the paranormal, this place more than delivers. Overall, this is the experience of Tombstone. Worth every bit of the entrance fee, even in the 2020s. Take your time, let the history sink in, and if you only see one thing in Tombstone, make it the Birdcage. I’ll be returning—again and again.

This theatre offers a truly unique and thrilling ghost-hunting experience, and I absolutely loved it! The biggest highlight by far was the woman who led the tour she was incredible. Her energy, storytelling, and deep knowledge of the local history made the entire experience feel authentic and captivating. She brought just the right mix of spookiness, humor, and historical insight, keeping everyone engaged the whole time. The atmosphere of the theatre added to the eerie charm, and the ghost-hunting equipment made it feel interactive and fun. Even if you're a skeptic, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement. Overall, it was a memorable and entertaining night, and I’d highly recommend it especially thanks to the amazing guide who truly made the experience come alive.

My husband and I are avid travelers and obsessed with paranormal investigations. This did not disappoint! I know I sound crazy to some but for those that have experienced it themselves completely understand me- I walked to one side (away from the group) and immediately felt like a 50 lb weight was on my stomach. I walked towards my husband and told him what just happened, immediately took a picture of the area where I felt the unusual feeling. I captured a ghost on camera! I captured several orbs, one entire human figure and one mist over the Black Moriah. Well worth every penny and every minute spent- it was the highlight of my trip!

This is the original building of The Bird Cage Theatre. It was built in 1881 and is now a museum, but retains a lot of the original theater details. We found the exhibits fascinating and really enjoyed the museum. There is also a nice gift shop loaded with Tombstone souvenirs.

Historic, Haunting, and Totally Worth the Visit. During our trip to Tombstone, we stopped by the Bird Cage Theatre—and it did not disappoint! Hearing the history of the building, seeing the original bar still marked with bullet holes, and viewing the old paintings and artifacts really brought the Wild West to life. The stories behind the place are fascinating, and it’s incredible how much has been preserved. If you’re in Tombstone, this is definitely a must-see spot for a deeper, more vivid look at its past.

I spent a solid three hours here taking in every detail—and if they weren’t closing for the day, I would’ve stayed longer. If you’re in Tombstone and skip the Bird Cage Theatre, you’re missing out. Period. Ignore the cheapskates whining about the $18 admission—it’s worth every cent if you have even a remote appreciation for history. This place is a time capsule, and absolutely essential if you want to understand the real Tombstone.

A very unique museum with an easy self-guided tour experience. I'm glad this place is here and I'm happy that I went though it. Is it worth $16.50 per person? I'd give it a "soft yes." The museum's artifacts are not perfectly curated and it was a bit dusty, but it's a good place to spend 30 minutes while in Tombstone if you're interested in the history.

I liked the history of the place, the lady was very informative,you pay extra to tour the place, its original features as you walk round, plenty to read and see. 👍

I have honestly been obsessed with this place since I was a kid. There is something about this place that makes it hauntingly sweet. Definitely the cherry on top to visit while in Tombstone

Well to start, I was disappointed. The town has so much potential to be a great historical site. The town should've been built back exactly to scale, and names of businesses to what it was before the fire. They could've had business owners authenticate the actual mining town feel, with the dress of the old west, and scattered actors in gambling halls, and saloons. Really immerse people in the actual old west days. Even if admission had to be charged to enter each building, it would have been worth the price. The history of the town should never be modernized. Just my opinion

Unfortunately I was in town for short time so I stopped very early to check out the bird cage theater, but it was closed. I'll definitely try to visit it next time I'm in town.

I love history and this place is full of it. Another must stop if your in Tombstone. Take the paid tour, its worth it.

We have been in the Bird Cage theater multiple times and it never disappoints. This time we brought some of our paranormal investigation equipment and we're not disappointed. Go for the history, haunts and to just see a glimpse of the old West.

Hey there! You ever find yourself in Tombstone, AZ? Well, if you do, you've got to check out the Bird Cage Theatre. It's like stepping right back into the Wild West, no kidding. So, we were wandering the streets, you know, taking in the sights, and we decided to take the paid tour of the Bird Cage Theatre. Worth every penny! Tombstone can feel kinda touristy, but this place? It's the real deal. This building's been standing since way back, from 1881 to 1894. Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday used to hang out there. Yeah, the very same! And they had these nightly performances and even the longest poker game ever, right down in the basement. Now, here's the cool part: You can still see bullet holes in the walls. I mean, it's not every day you can stand where legendary gunfights took place, right? Even some of the art on the walls has bullet holes, and it's still hanging where it was back in the day. They've got all sorts of other neat stuff too, like old photos and artifacts from Tombstone's history. And if you're up for a good scare, they've got this haunted tour after hours. But, seriously, the Bird Cage Theatre is more than just a tourist spot. It's like a piece of history that's still alive. If you're ever around that way, you've got to make a stop. It's not just a cool place; it's a way to touch history. Five stars from me, and if you go, you'll see why!

Cool place to see some great Americana. The stage and history is unique. Nice feel for the old west. Definitely worth a stop

Despite how touristy Tombstone can be, the Bird Cage Theatre is worth the stop. It is one of the few original buildings that is still standing. It operated from 1881 to 1894 and was frequented by notable people like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Bird Cage Theatre had performances nightly and held the longest poker game in history in the basement. One thing that is cool is that you can still see the bullets holes in the walls. There are lots of cool artifacts and old photos from Tombstone's history to see inside. They also have a haunted tour during after hours.

This was a thrilling experience! My husband caught a picture of a ghost cowboy! The ghost monitor kept going off. The little dog kept lighting up. If your into ghost like my daughter this is recommended.

We had a great time visiting the historic Bird Cage Theatre. We loved watching Ghost Hunters back in the day, so it was a blast getting to finally see this theatre. The self-guided tour takes about 20-40 minutes depending on how much of the descriptions you want to fully read. No trip to Tombstone is complete without visiting the Bird Cage Theatre!

It was a very good Tour. I could have stayed and looked at all the trinkets and memorabilia for days. Great old building left the way it was.

A curiosity located in Tombstone. I don't think myself and my parents were quite their target audience, lol, because we had some real ghost-believers on our tour-- including the tour guide! The Birdcage has some interesting history, which the tour guide was knowledgeable about, as well as the "names" of some of the ghosts living there. But the theatre itself is rather small; you'll tour the front where the bar is located, the gambling section in the middle, the area behind the stage, and the basement. They don't show off the upstairs anymore due to safety concerns. Once you've finished touring, there's a 30-minute dark session, where you'll take a seat and observe in "full" darkness, along with EMF meters. During this time you are supposed to remain pretty quiet, except for select questions you can ask the ghosts (such as "Are you among us?" "Can you play the piano?" etc.). Unfortunately, we had a couple of obnoxious people on our tour who wouldn't stop asking sports related questions like "if the Cowboys would win" and dumb jokes every time anyone else spoke-- they didn't know how to shut up and listen and it kind of ruined the experience for everyone else. I wish the guide would've kicked them out. Anyway, if you're into ghost stories and that kind of lore, this is a cool place to check out. Mostly I enjoyed a bunch of cool late 1800s antiques scattered throughout the place. I was a little disappointed they skipped the gift shop downstairs? Weird. I would've thought they'd want to tempt us with souvenirs to buy.

Very cool to see, however, my son amd I got hustled during the ghost tour. Don't waste your money or time on the ghost tour. It is a waste of both.

The history is amazing and great artifacts in the museum. Totally worth the $10 if you love history. Entire staff was great. It's totally cool and totally spooky

A lot of nude photos A lot of great history, but regret taking a child. No ghosts around.

Stopped by to hear the history of the theatre one of the original places her this town is very well preserved along with people dressed in the old attire everything cost to see starting at $5 but this is a small town so no big deal to hear the history

This is one of those great historical places you should go to once in your lifetime. The history of gun fights, gambling and the lifestyle of the past is something everyone should experience This is the #1 thing to do in town

What an incredible experience to be able to go back to the old west at The Bird Cage Theater. The artifacts and memorabilia they have their is incredible. I can't imagine a visit to Tombstone without spending time at The Bird Cage Theater. Highly recommended. It is easily one of the top two attractions in Tombstone.

Definitely my favorite spot in Tombstone. Save at least an hour to browse and soak in all of the history. You can feel it all. It's about $14 a person. You start by walking up a creaky staircase and enter the theater area. The original piano sits in its original spot. Everywhere you look there is cool stuff. The theater boxes are much smaller than what you would imagine. You are able to go on the stage and look at the carriage hearse, an old dental chair, and so much more. My favorite was the bar/poker area. Everything is in its original spot, including the mirrors that have been hanging there since the 1800's. It's so much smaller and cramped. There are also the pleasure rooms that are right next to the poker tables- man, life must have been good living back then. Sigh. Anyways, if you go to Tombstone, do yourself a favor and check this place out. If you love history like I do, there is a lot to appreciate. We went during the day, but if I ever get the chance to go back, I would love to do the night tour.

The museum at the birdcage is by far the best thing in all of tombstone. Tons of stuff to look at and read... All authentic... We were blown away at how much cool stuff was in that museum. What a treasure.

So don't get me wrong - MUST SEE THIS. It is awesome. They offer self guided tours during the day and we saw a lot of cool stuff (except why put hokey monster figures in the building? What zombies were in the old west?) We were so intrigued that we popped for the GUIDED ghost tour and sadky it was a huge disappointment. The woman who did it seemed disinterested. She told us all about pictures on her phone that she couldn't show us because the battery was dead. However she forgot half the information about the building and then would ask us later if she had told us. It was just bad. Spent $65 to sit in the dark for an hour and absolutely nothing happened. That's fine, I didn't expect anything to happen. The guided tour was what we wanted. Our guide was extremely underwhelming. Pay the $15 to see it yourself, don't waste your money on sitting in the dark after a tour that literally tells you nothing.

$14 way to much for what you see. A lot of cool stuff from back in the day. It has all the dust from back then too. Nothing is being kept up or preserved in this building. Real shame. They have a gem here if they would do some updating and clean it up. We seen posters and things that really needed to be preserved just sitting out in the open. Don't recommend! The court house is a way better, cleaner experience. Well preserved! Staff not so friendly.

What a cool spot to check out while in tombstone. It's $15 for a self guided tour or $25 per for the afternoon ghost tour. It's worth it for your first tome I guess but I don't think I would pay to do it a second time. The history here is what makes this place something extra special imo. Ahh if these walls could talk

The piece of the old real west that hasn't died! The second you walk in, you can smell the old wood... The leather, everything. I can't put into words how amazing it was walking thru time like that. Definitely recommend!

Absolutely a must see when visiting Tombstone. We were blown away by this time capsule of a museum. So interesting! Of note for families, there is kind of a scarey looking figure downstairs in the gambling hall and some indecent photos but overall one of the highlights of Tombstone.

Loved the building. However four of us went on 6:15 ghost tour and it was awful. Our guide mumbled so really hard to understand. She often was in another room speaking and half of us were still in the previous room. A guide waits until everyone is close before talking. Love the building and appreciate all the history. But four of us were extremely unhappy after spending $35 per person. Missed a lot of what she said.Hopefully they will read and fix situation!

Saw all the commercials that tombstone was pet friendly. Don't bring your dog you'll find out that you can't take your dog into anything not even the restaurants this restaurant would not let us bring her dog in only if it was a service dog I just want to warn people.

Another great trip to the Birdcage Theater. We recently moved and are closer to Tombstone so I took my amazing husband here for Father's Day. Since we'd been before, this was the only attraction we went back for just because it's so cool! Like taking a step back in time. $15 each for us and my daughter was free.

Very interesting location! We did the ghost tour and enjoyed it. Karen was our host for the evening and did a great job. The group was a bit too large in my opinion so it took away from the experience a lot. Some were drunk and made too much noise during the entire tour, which was annoying, especially when it's time for the lights to go out and you have to be quiet... Overall we will return again in the near future.

Epic historical monument. I think this is one of the most important landmarks we have in this country. It does a really great job of depicting what life was like in the old Wild West. Most of us don't want to hear the truth about outlaws coming west to escape prison or about gambling let alone hear about the prostitution and drinking. But the truth is that this was the way of life back then. This is an original building that has survived the test of time and remains as a reminder. You can feel the history as you walk in and see the bullet holes.... or maybe it's just the ghost of Wyatt Earp breathing down you neck?

Lots of history picture take is aloud get your own self guide tour lots of fun lots of artifacts. They say it haunted but we did not see or hear anything left some money on poker table great time.

We went into Tombstone in the afternoon after we arrived for a bite to eat. Many of the places were closed after so we went to The Bird Cage Theatre since it was still open. I did some research on Yelp to find the best places to go in Tombstone and The Bird Cage Theatre was in the top places. The entrance to The Bird Cage Theatre was a step into the past. Lovely Danielle, our guide, was dressed in period clothing and was a wealth of knowledge about The Bird Cage and Tombstone. She spoke in the first person making it feel as she was one of the saloon girls telling a story. There is a large portrait in the front of Fatima, an exotic belly dancer who worked there. There are 6 bullet holes and a knife slash in the portrait. Inside the main room where you enter the building, there were 2 of the original 14 tiny cages or "cribs" hung high above the floor and stage where prostitutes would entertain customers during the show below. The bar is original. No one wanted to ship it because there are two giant mirrors in the mantle of the piece that forms the back of the bar. There is also a bar where customers would stand. These pieces were each made of a single block of wood. All the carving was done into the wood and not added on it. It was made in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, (finally) shipped on the Star of India (now, docked in San Diego) around the tip of South America to the west coast of Mexico, then hauled by freight wagon the rest of the way. Just touching the wood, made smooth by years of wear, was interesting. There were also bullet holes in the bar, adding to its charm. It's $12 for adults to take the tour through the back where there are box seats above the crowd for well-off customers where they can watch the show. They have a very large number of fascinating displays on the main floor, above and in the basement. They only allow certain photos so I won't have many here. It probably took us 2 hours total to listen to the history in front and go through the displays. It was definitely worth the price. I highly recommend going through The Bird Cage. And thanks to Danielle for the great information. They didn't have a Ghost Tour that night but they say the building-especially, the cribs are haunted. It would be very interesting to take that tour next time.

we couldn't have asked for a better guide! exciting and amazing!! definitely recommend..

Every Tombstone movie buff and anyone who wants to see some real local history has to stop and take this tour. We were curious if the fee was worth it...it was for sure! Getting to see original old photos, seeing the original furniture, the hurst...the list goes on, absolutely recommend this.

It was wonderful to see the history captured at this place. There is so much to see! I'm happy that time has not erased this historical treasure. The admission fee is with the self guided tour. They offer ghost tours, but we aren't interested in such tours. It would've been nice to have a tour without the ghost bologna.

Very friendly and informative tour. It was really cool seeing all the relics and so much history. Dog friendly is always a plus for me.

Overall, this was one of our favorite places in Tombstone. The Bird Cage Theatre has the most 1800s memorabilia to view. Cups, plates, furnishings, posters, photographs, etc. This location is an original brothel and still has the original rooms and furnishings used for the business. There are also over 100 bullet holes in the building. If anyone has watched the 90s movie, Tombstone, it appears to be identical to the scenes in the movie. Definitely worth the entry fee!

MUST DO! ... DO the late night Ghost Tour! Totally worth the $20!!! I had been to Tombstone twice before and this time I told myself that I'm going to spend the money and go into The Bird Cage Theater. I have to do this! The history, the tour, the energy, were all what I was looking for... and yes, we had an encounter while there. My friend is more sensitive than I am. She was in communication with someone and that someone threw change down on the floor around the card table to make themselves known. We all looked around at each other like WTH just happened. My friend didn't say anything to anyone while we were there, including me. She didn't say anything until the next day as she had to take some time to process what happened to us. She asked the presence for a sign... and we all got one! Towards the end of the tour, our group which was only 5 of us plus the tour guide, sat down at a table on stage with three spirit boxes... the tour guide proceeded to turn the lights off. We were asked to ask yes or no questions to the ghosts. The box by one of the guys (see pic) just kept going off. My friend asked if we could change around the boxes and was given permission to do so. She was trying to debunk the phenomenon. A different box next to this guys kept going off. The ghost liked him specifically! Too bad there was music playing in the background. The other party on tour with us brought a recorder to tape the session... the background music was too loud so it didn't work. They were bummed. Maybe that is something that needs to be addressed in the future. If you are scared in any way, just don't do it. Don't mess up the experience for those that believe anything is possible. We were lucky to only have a few of us on the tour. I probably wouldn't like it so much if there were much more on the tour. I am still amazed that the women made so much. I am also amazed at the rooms up top over looking the theater... and the ladies and men would just be up there doing it while the shows, etc was going on with really not much privacy. For some reason I find the ladies fascinating. And if I did have a past life in the old west, I pretty sure I owned a bordello and was really good to my girls. Life in the old west was already tough enough. For more info about the ghosts at The Bird Cage just go to their website and click on the links, especially the ones from the Travel Channel TV show Ghost Adventures... https://www.tombstonebirdcage.com/

Definitely worth a bit of your time. The owner's son runs this old joint. After shopping around, he pulls out a microphone and gives us a good 5-10 minute history lesson about this building. What you see is only 5% of the building. The rest is above and below the bar. Filled with cages where girls sold their services for 25$, of which the girls kept $5. You can purchase replicas of the coins used by men who'd wanted to purchase a night with the girl. For 40$ for a family of four or 12$ per person, you could do a self guided tour of the area and view the space where the longest poker game lasted over 8 years. 1000$ entry to play at the time is equivalent to 30,000$ today. Only the rich and Famous men have played in this game. The owner of the RV lodge I stayed in told me one of his visitors and wife toured the birdcage and was trying to imagine which guy sat in which chair of the poker game. He felt an icy rush and felt someone tap him on the shoulder as to say "hey move over, you're blocking me". Nobody was round him. So yes the place is haunted!! The guy at the bar told me he would feel someone pushing him but nobody was there. He also mentioned a customer had told him there was a original gold coin on the table. It was a mystery how it got there. Next thing you know, it disappears and ends up on the owner's dresser. Now the owner has it locked away in a safe. Only replicas of it are for sale for 15.99. I will be back without my kids to join the ghost tour.

The Bird Cage Theatre is the only building that is original as the day it was built. Many buildings were destroyed by fires but, this one managed to survive. The bar there is the original complete with a bullet hole. There are several bullet holes around the walls as well. We did not have time to take the full tour but, we went into the lobby and heard the talk about the building and what was there. It is full of lots of interesting historical things. We will be back for the full tour soon.

We have taken the night tours on many occassions..worth the $$. This place is a MUST see along with the Tombstone Courthouse. If time permits I highly recommend the largest rose bush museum and the Gun Fighter museum. Amazing history brought to life.

I have to be honest I did not take the tour but my best friend did he had an awesome time he said it was very entertaining and very informative it has very nice scenery and a lot of interesting artifacts and history of the town it's a cool place and it's highly recommend it

Well, what else are you going to do in Tombstone? This was my 3rd or 4th visit to Tombstone in ~30 years. I would always pass this museum up in the past, but I splurged for the $14 x 2 today just to get it off my bucket list. The self guided tour was about what I expected. You start at the back of the theatre and work your way counter clockwise along the main floor looking at very old and tattered stuff and pictures. They claim the holes in the ceiling were caused by patrons in the old days, shooting their guns. Some of the holes look a little suspect, but ok. Once you are done with the main floor, you step up onto the stage for more stuff and pictures, then you walked down below the stage for more stuff and faded pictures. Go ahead, get it out of your system and move on. After all, like me, you probably have wasted more money on less. However, if your time in Tombstone is limited, I would suggest spending it and your money on the Tombstone Court House State Park Museum down the street, first. It is much more robust regarding artifacts and 'telling the story' than the Bird Cage, and has a much better gift shop.

Fun fun fun!! We did the Ghost Tour on Halloween, with Karen. She was great....funny, informative and so nice. It was great to wander the theater and basement, and learn so much of the history of the building. At the end of the tour, we sat with lights out, hoping to find or see some activity, but none revealed themselves this trip. The lobby area itself is full of history and has many pieces saved in original form. Excellent place for history, fun and the people are very friendly and helpful.

Wow! Talk about a spot that screams authenticity and history! This theater is a must-see on your trip to Tombstone. The guides are knowledgeable and friendly. I highly suggest taking the $14 walking tour. As fascinating as the lobby is, the really good stuff is backstage and downstairs. Forget about the OK Corral, visit the Bird Cage and you'll be like a real "Huckleberry."

I love The Bird Cage Theatre! The history behind it is interesting, and it must've been quite a site to see in its day. The employees working are very knowledgeable, and will give you a speech when you walk in, even if you don't pay for a tour. You will see the original bar, bullet holes, and art left behind! If you decide to go in (which you totally should) you'll have a lot to view! It's a lot bigger than it looks! Some of the original artifacts are eery, like a coffin that was repeatedly used for the poor during their viewings. As far as GHOSTS, (I know that's what you're all dying to hear about....) well, I don't know. I know many have experienced things here, but we did not, with the exception of "orbs" which I've been told are ghosts... so you decide! We did catch a couple pictures of orbs, but only in one room. Also, just to add for you skeptics, I have never had any pictures capture orbs before. Definitely doesn't appear to be dust or something like that! Okay I needed to update this after looking through my mom's photos... I noticed two odd things in one picture.... you can peek through and see if you find it!

What a great place with a ton of history and fun stuff to see!

visiting this place has been on my bucket list! It was amazing and the staff has a lot of knowledge on the history of the town. Me and my husband did a ghost tour and it was fantastic! Our tour guide was an older gentleman and was amazing! highly recommend stopping here and doing a ghost tour!

Hands down the best attraction in town. There are several other decent ones but this one was the best one we visited. The older curator did an outstanding job and hooked us in from the beginning. We walked away at first, wanting to see other things before we made our decision for what we were going to see. Note - attractions in Tombstone are a fee for service at EACH location. While I get the idea of private businesses competing for your business, we all know the history of Tombstone. Do you really need to see a reenactment? Your choice but 10-20 bucks for each show and there were several, wasn't worth it. We returned later in the day and went through the entire building. Wow - amazing. What you see on the outside doesn't do justice to what you will see on the inside. There is an incredible amount of history in that building and what's most impressive, it's the original structure - the ONLY original structure. It cost us 14 bucks to get in. It's self-guided and if you take your time, which we did, you'll easily spend an hour looking around, reading all the things on the walls, on tables, etc. This is well worth the time and money. Do your homework before you check out the other attractions.

This is one place you need to visit and check out all the artifacts in it from this town it's definitely worth the price of admission. I wish they had guided tours though.