“Dozens of Tucson bookshops have come and gone over the years, more than 75 of them in all, but for thousands of kids growing up in the 1980s and ‘90s there was only one: the Haunted Bookshop at Tohono Chul.

The store, opened by Dick and Jean Wilson in 1979, was nestled in the middle of the desert preserve we see today, near a trail that meandered up the hill from the parking lot through the cactus, agave and mesquite.

Once inside the store, children could crawl through a tunnel of books, join a friend in the ‘hidey hole,’ or just watch the model train that rolled along tracks high overhead.

‘A visit here is more than a shopping trip,’ Jean Wilson once said. ‘It’s an outing; it’s a day.’

The Haunted Bookshop closed in 1997, but its spirits live on — not just at Tohono Chul, but in “nontraditional bookstores” scattered throughout Tucson, from the National Parks Store in Oro Valley to the gift shop at San Xavier Mission.”—Arizona Daily Star, August 25, 2023

This rare bookmark measures 5 3/4 by 1 3/4 inches. It features a woodcut-style design of a man on a wooden ladder reading a book. This stock artwork was widely used as a template by independent bookstores across the United States during the late 20th century to print custom promotional bookmarks.

This bookmark has age toning, heavy creasing at and near the top edge and a very small slight crinkle near the bottom edge. It comes from a smoke and fragrance-free home. It will be well packaged to ensure it arrives safely.

Please check out our other bookstore bookmarks. We'll combine shipping.