The original 1880s fixtures inside the Bird Cage Theatre are a huge part of why the building feels like a perfectly preserved time capsule. They aren’t replicas or restorations — they’re the real objects that lit, decorated, and animated the theatre during Tombstone’s wildest years. Let’s dig into what makes them so special.
Original 1880s Fixtures Inside the Bird Cage Theatre
Gas Lamps, Chandeliers, and Lighting
Hand‑lit gas lamps still hang in their original positions, giving the theatre its famously dim, amber glow.
Victorian chandeliers with soot‑darkened glass remain suspended over the main floor.
Stage footlights — once fueled by gas — are still embedded along the stage edge, a rare survival in any Old West theatre.
Stage & Theatre Furnishings
Original stage curtains, faded but intact, still frame the performance area.
Backstage dressing mirrors with silvering worn thin by time remain mounted where performers once prepared.
Wooden theatre seats, many scarred by boots, spurs, and cigarette burns, line the floor exactly as they did in the 1880s.
Mirrors, Bar Fixtures & Saloon Details
The massive back‑bar mirror — shipped around Cape Horn — still reflects the saloon floor.
Original shelving and bottle racks remain behind the bar, some still holding antique bottles.
Hand‑carved bar counter shows decades of wear from gamblers, miners, and cowboys.
Décor, Wallpaper & Textiles
Period wallpaper, darkened by smoke and age, still clings to the walls.
Velvet drapery around the balcony “bird cages” remains in place, though faded to deep burgundy.
Framed 19th‑century prints and advertisements hang where they were originally placed.
Gambling & Brothel Artifacts
The faro table in the basement is one of the only surviving original ones in the world.
Poker chairs and card boxes remain untouched since the last legendary game.
Brothel furnishings — small tables, washstands, and lamps — still sit inside the balcony cribs.