The Crystal Palace Saloon
Near Tombstone, Arizona
On the corner of Allen and Fifth stands one of the grandest survivors of Tombstone's boom, the Crystal Palace Saloon. Tradition says it began as the Golden Eagle Brewery in eighteen seventy nine, and it was rebuilt after the great fire of eighteen eighty two swept through the business district. In a rough mining town, the Crystal Palace was the place to see and be seen, with a gleaming mahogany bar, fine liquor, and games of chance running late into the night.
Its history is woven straight into the Earp story. Tradition holds that the second floor once held the office of Virgil Earp during his time as Deputy United States Marshal. Downstairs, Wyatt Earp is said to have run games of chance, and Doc Holliday dealt cards at the tables.
The better class of gambler drank here rather than in the rougher dives, and deals both honest and crooked were struck over these floors. Restored and still pouring today, the Crystal Palace is often billed as Arizona's oldest continuously operating saloon, a working piece of the frontier restored to its eighteen eighty one look, where you can still lean on a mahogany bar.
