Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Fort Sumner, NM 6/9/2012

We left Lubbock, TX and the plan was to stay the night in Clovis NM but it was early when we got there so we went on and headed for Fort Sumner. We visited Billy the Kidd’s museum and the graveyard  where he is buried. We found a large parking lot to leave the motorhome while we went exploring.

Billy the Kid Museum Ft Sumner, NM (2)

Interesting museum and not just about Billy the Kid but about the area where he lived and died.

 Billy the Kid Museum Ft Sumner, NM (4)

Barber Shop

Billy the Kid Museum Ft Sumner, NM (8)

Bunk House

Billy the Kid Museum Ft Sumner, NM (7)

Old Tractors

Billy the Kid Museum Ft Sumner, NM Dick in Jail

The Jail. Look who I caught trying out the facility.

Billy the Kid Museum Ft Sumner, NM (9)

Standard and Shell both popular brands.

Billy the Kid Museum Ft Sumner, NM (10)

Old cars and trucks.

Billy the Kid Museum Ft Sumner, NM Rockey

The Saloon awaits.

Billy the Kid Museum Ft Sumner, NM

We then drove over to the other museum and graveyard.

Ft. Sumner, NM Billy's Grave

You notice this grave and stone are behind bars and the marker is encased in heavy metal bars. Evidently this gravestone is a favorite and it has been stolen twice. The first time was in 1950 and for 26 years it remained a mystery until 1976 when it was recovered in Granbury, Texas.

It was stolen again on 2/8/1981 and recovered on 2/12/81 in Huntington Beach, CA.

Gov. Bruce King arranged for De Baca County Sheriff “Big John” to fly to LA to return the marker.

Chamber officials with Jarvis P. Garrett officially reset the marker in iron shackles 5/30/1981.