Schieffelin Hall: Tombstone's Grand Old Theater

Schieffelin Hall, located on Fremont Street in Tombstone, Arizona, is a remarkable survivor from the town's boomtown days. Constructed in 1881 by Albert Schieffelin and William Harwood, this adobe building was designed as a first-class opera house, theater, recital hall, and meeting place for Tombstone's burgeoning population. At the time of its opening on June 8, 1881, it was the largest and most elaborate theater between El Paso, Texas, and San Francisco, California, seating 450 people on the floor and another 125 in the gallery. The Hall quickly became the center of Tombstone's entertainment and social life, hosting formal balls, theatrical performances, and important town meetings. The opening play was Tom Taylor's five-act drama, 'The Ticket-of-Leave Man,' on September 15, 1881. The stage's drop curtain, painted with a Colorado scene, was considered a work of art. The building even played a role in the lives of famous Tombstone figures; Wyatt and Morgan Earp attended a performance of 'Stolen Kisses' there in March 1882. Despite being scorched by a large fire in 1882 that devastated many blocks of Tombstone, Schieffelin Hall was spared complete destruction. While the fire and a later flood took their toll, the hall was restored in 1963 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Today, Schieffelin Hall continues to serve Tombstone as a venue for plays, city council meetings, local social gatherings, fundraisers, and theatrical performances. It also houses the King Solomon Lodge #5, one of Arizona's founding Masonic Lodges.