Lincoln, New Mexico.....A land Of Open Spaces Where The Buffalo Roam

Before the time when the settlers began moving west, this beautiful prairie was home to members of the First Nations. This was a time when everywhere you looked the land was covered with grasses. As far as the eye could see was miles and miles of buffalo grass.  This was a time when the Pawnee lived in and around Salt Creek. They also lived in villages up and down the Platte River.  The Sioux Nation and the Lakota also used the area as a summer hunting ground and a place to have their frequent skirmishes. 

Strolling down Main Street in Lincoln is like taking a giant leap back into the past. This is the land of the "wild west." Here is where legends were made, and people like Billy the Kid is forever a part of the history of the town. Pat Garrett also left his mark on this small town.  In this tiny prairie village, various Indian Nations, Mexican Americans, and famous gun fighters all left their mark. It was here that the Lincoln County War began.  This short war killed many men and was successful in making Billy the Kid a famous legend. Today, Main Street is like stepping back in time. 

It is no wonder why these legends chose this area. This is the perfect land for riding horses, hiding from hostile Indian Nations, and starting a skirmish with a non-suspecting enemy. The prairie can be a busy place.

In the 1850's  this high tower was constructed in the center of town to protect the settlers from Mescalero Apaches. This beautiful round tower is now part of the historic district. Today, this is one of the  historical museums in Lincoln.  Other museums are Old Lincoln County Courthouse Museum, which shows the many diverse uses the building had over the many years.   The Tunstall Store  Museum is completely stocked as it would have been in the 19th Century.  The Montano Store Museum shows all the different aspects of Hispanic life during the tine of the Lincoln County War.  It also shows you how adobe houses were made.  San Juan Mission Church (La Iglesia de San Juan Bautista) is a Roman Catholic Mission Church built in 1887. It is open to the public for tours and is still in use today.  Anderson-Freeman Visitors Center is not an historical building but a museum of the history of the area. 

If you love living history and the old wild west, you will enjoy spending time in Lincoln, New Mexico. The minute you start down Main Street, you will think you are back in the 1800's. This is an exciting adventure for all ages, young and old. So gather the family embark on an exploration of Lincoln, New Mexico.