About the TRC
Preserving Tombstone's history since 1949
Preserving Tombstone's history since 1949
The Tombstone Restoration Commission is comprised of private citizens committed to historic preservation, rehabilitation, and conservation of historic structures in Tombstone, Arizona.
Tombstone holds a unique place in American history. Its National Historic Landmark district, recognized for more than 40 years, represents an irreplaceable record of 19th-century frontier life. But Hollywood has reduced that story to a 30-second gunfight. The TRC exists to tell the fuller story: the schools, churches, civic clubs, restaurants, and remarkable people who built a civilization in the desert.
Since our founding in 1949, TRC volunteers have raised funds, secured grants, and partnered with local and state government to restore some of Tombstone's most significant structures. Our work ensures these landmarks survive for another generation.
The Tombstone Restoration Commission was founded in 1949 by a group of citizens concerned about the deteriorating condition of Tombstone's historic buildings. The organization incorporated as a nonprofit with EIN 86-6004789 and has operated continuously since.
Our signature early achievement was the restoration of the 1882 Tombstone Courthouse. The courthouse had stood vacant since 1929 when TRC began the restoration effort in 1955. It reopened as a museum in 1959 and today houses original documents and thousands of artifacts as the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park — one of Arizona's most visited historic sites.
In January 2009, Tombstone was designated a Preserve America Community, recognizing the city's outstanding commitment to historic preservation. The TRC's decades of work contributed directly to that designation.
TRC is governed by a volunteer board of Tombstone community members.
Robert Davenport
President
Robert Ramirez
Vice President
Robert Barnes
Board Member, Project Architect
Bourke Burton
Jeff Devere
Todd Ste Marie
Susan Wallace
Brad Wood
TRC is a volunteer-driven organization. We welcome community members who share our passion for Tombstone's history. Attend a monthly meeting, volunteer for a project, or support our work through a donation.