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The Anderson-Freeman Visitor Center and Museum is the best place to start exploring the Lincoln Historic Site in New Mexico.
Visiting
The Anderson-Freeman Visitor Center and Museum was built in 1978 by the Lincoln County Heritage Trust. Other than learning about the history of Lincoln, it’s also where you can pay for admission to the historic site. Admission grants access to the handful of buildings open to visitors. The visitor center is open daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Exhibits
The Anderson-Freeman Visitor Center and Museum features a historical timeline beginning with prehistory and Native Americans and ending at the Lincoln County War (see below). There are also plenty of exhibits displaying artifacts and photos as well as a 22-minute film about the Lincoln County War. The film runs every half hour.
The first section of the museum includes displays about the Apaches who lived in the area long before the first European settlers arrived. It includes photos, clothing, pottery, and more.
Next is a display on the Buffalo Soldiers, an all-black regiment making up the 9th Cavalry. They were stationed at nearby Fort Stanton during the Indian Wars in the mid to late 1800s. Another display about Fort Stanton follows, as well as a display about the town of Lincoln.
Lincoln County War
Finally, there’s a very thorough exhibit on the Lincoln County War, which lasted from 1878 to 1881. The “war” began when wealthy Englishman John Tunstall (1853-1878) opened a general store, cattle ranch, and bank in Lincoln County in 1876, along with business partner and attorney Alexander McSween (1837-1878). They were backed by local rancher John Chisum (1824-1884).
Tunstall’s store offered competition to James Dolan (1848-1898) and Lawrence Murphy (1831-1878), two Irishmen who owned the only general store in the county and monopolized the dry goods market. They also controlled local politics, the criminal justice system, and law enforcement, and were allied with Sheriff William Brady (1829-1878). Dolan and Murphy, who were Irish and Catholic, didn’t take kindly to the encroachment on their territory, especially by a man of English and Protestant descent. They hired groups of outlaws to harass Tunstall and rustle cattle from the Tunstall and Chisum ranches.
The war officially began when Tunstall was murdered in front of several of his ranch hands on February 18, 1878. One of those ranch hands was Billy the Kid (1859-1881). The ranch hands formed a group called “The Regulators” in order to avenge their boss’ murder.
As the war escalated over the next few months, Sheriff Brady, McSween, and 20 others were all killed. Dolan was indicted and acquitted for Tunstall’s murder, and later acquired all of Tunstall’s property. Murphy died of cancer on October 20, 1878. Billy the Kid continued on as a fugitive until he was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett (1850-1908) on July 14, 1881.
