Question: I see a lot of information on Billy the Kid while surfing around the Ruidoso area web sites. Is he from Ruidoso or something?

Answer: Well not exactly ... the town Billy called home was Lincoln, New Mexico. This makes for a great day trip from Ruidoso. A 35-minute ride or so takes you back in time. This entire town is on the National Historic Register and seems to have changed not a lick since Billy the Kid roamed its streets in search of mayhem. Plan a visit out that way. Here's a link to a Lincoln County map to assist with your travel planning.

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Question: Are there any specific events which deal with the life and times of Billy the Kid? When are they held?

Answer: Old Lincoln Days held in Lincoln during the first weekend in August every year is the best solution I reckon'. Its a three-day fest, which besides other events, features two nightly performances and a Sunday matinee performance of the Lincoln County Pageant which chronicles Billy's last days in Lincoln New Mexico. This play has been continuously running since the late 1930's and is really full of local flavor ... and characters. Check out the Go Ruidoso Special Events Calendar for exact dates.

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Question: I'm an amateur historian recently moved to the Southwest and am fascinated by history of this area from the Anasazi through the late 1800's and beyond. So I have a question as I begin to familiarize myself with this area. Is Lincoln, New Mexico actually associated with the Lincoln County Wars?

Answer: You got this one right Bill ... move to the head of the class. Lincoln New Mexico was the Lincoln County seat in the 1800's through the early 1900's when it was moved to Carrizozo, New Mexico because of the railroad. The Chisolm Trail moved through Lincoln as did hundreds of thousand heads of cattle during that time. The Lincoln County War was really a fight over competing economic interests in terms of the range rights, provisioning the cattle ranchers and such and most of its activity did take place in and around Lincoln, New Mexico ... check out this link to a great article from Wild West Magazine on the Lincoln County Wars right here.

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