Page 231 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

SOUTHERN NE W MEXIC O  229

Billy the Kid
When he died, Billy the Kid was one of the Old
West’s most notorious outlaws. Born Henry McCarty
in 1859, it is believed he changed his name to
William Bonney in 1877, when he killed his first
victim in Arizona.
Billy fled to Lincoln, where he was hired
by John Tunstall and Alexander McSween,
who had set up a store competing with One of the historic buildings along Lincoln’s
one run by Lawrence Murphy and James main street
Dolan. In February 1878, when Dolan’s
men murdered Tunstall, Billy helped to form a Lincoln
the Regulators, who set out to get justice.
The Lincoln County War followed, culminating Road map E4. * 100. n Hwy 380E
with a violent battle in July. Billy escaped, but Lincoln (575) 653-4372. Open 8:30am–
was captured by Sheriff Pat Garrett two years later 4:30pm daily. Closed public hols. &
and returned to Lincoln to be hanged. Once again, 7 ∑ nmhistoricsites.org/lincoln
however, he escaped.
Billy was eventually shot, by Garrett, at Fort The peacefulness of this small
Sumner on July 14, 1881. In spite of his violent life, town, surrounded by the
Billy was a local hero. His story and deeds are beautiful countryside of the
memorialized in the little town of Lincoln. Capitan Mountains, belies its
violent past. It was the center
Wild West outlaw, Billy the Kid of the 1878 Lincoln County
War, a battle between rival
ranchers and merchants
the Museum of the Horse, its Antoine Predock in 1997, involving the legendary Billy
artifacts range from fine art to this sandstone building has the Kid. In those days, Lincoln
horse-drawn carriages. Outside a spectacular mountain County covered one-quarter
is the fabulous Free Spirits at backdrop. of the state, and Lincoln itself
Noisy Water (1995), a was the county seat.
monument of seven larger- I Links at Sierra Blanca Lincoln is now a state historic
than-life-sized horses by local 105 Sierra Blanca Dr. Tel (575) 258-5330. site, with 11 buildings kept as
artist Dave McGary (1958–  Ski Apache they were in the late 1800s. At
2013). Every October, the town ∑ skiapache.com the Lincoln County Courthouse
celebrates life in the Old West you can see where Billy the Kid
with the Lincoln County Ruidoso Downs Racetrack was held, and the bullet hole
Cowboy Symposium, which Hwy 70. Tel (575) 378-4431. in the wall from his escape.
features country music and Open May–early Sep. & 7 Tunstall Store has its shelves
dancing, celebrity roping, and E Hubbard Museum of the stocked with original
a chuck wagon cook-off. American West 19th-century merchandise.
Set on a high mesa a few 26301 Hwy 70 West. Tel (575) 378- The Historic Lincoln Visitor
miles north at Alto is the 4142. Open 9am–5pm Thu–Mon. Center & Museum has displays
Spencer Theater for the Closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & 7 on the Apache people, the early
Performing Arts, a state-of- F Spencer Theater for the Hispanic settlers, and the Buffalo
the-art venue for theater, Performing Arts Soldiers all-black regiment from
music, and dance. Built by 108 Spencer Dr. Tel (575) 336-4800; Fort Stanton, as well as the
Albuquerque architect (888) 818-7872. & 7 Lincoln County War.

The bronze monument, Free Spirits at Noisy Water (1995), at the Hubbard Museum of the American West

228-229_EW_SW_USA.indd 229 28/11/17 12:42 PM