National Historic Landmark

Lincoln Historic District

Lincoln, Lincoln County, New Mexico

Listed

October 14, 1966

Type

District

Period

Civil War

Ref No.

66000477

About this property

Lincoln Historic District is a historic district encompassing the community of Lincoln, New Mexico. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The historic district contains 48 structures, some privately held, 12 miles (19 km) east of Capitan and 57 miles (92 km) west of Roswell along U.S. Route 380. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960. The National Park Service reviewer of the site, who visited in 1974, believed that it was the best preserved frontier "cow town" in the United States. Seventeen of the buildings are owned by the state of New Mexico and operated as Lincoln Historic Site under the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Four of the buildings are open as museums year round, and two are open seasonally. It includes a number of buildings, including Wright House, Dr. Wood's Office, the Watson House, Curry Saloon, Wortley Hotel, Penfield Shop and Home, Tunstall Store, Old Mill, Ellis Store, Old Courthouse, and Montano Store. The town is notable for its famous residents who participated in the Lincoln County War, and as the site of Billy the Kid's most famous escape in April 1881.

Location

Lincoln, Lincoln County, New Mexico

33.49329, -105.38873

Everything a full report reveals about Lincoln Historic District

This page lists Lincoln Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Nearby Battles

Lincoln County War — McSween House Siege

1878Frontier

0.3 mi

Five-Day Battle of Lincoln (Lincoln County War)

1878Frontier

0.4 mi

Lincoln County War (New Mexico)

1878Indian Wars

0.6 mi

Billy the Kid — Lincoln County Escape 1881

1881Frontier

0.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Lincoln Historic District listed on the National Register?

Lincoln Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Lincoln Historic District?

Lincoln Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Lincoln Historic District a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Lincoln Historic District has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Lincoln Historic District?

The period of significance for Lincoln Historic District is recorded as the civil_war era.

Can I research the history near Lincoln Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Lincoln Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Lincoln County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Lincoln County.

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Conflict records

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New Mexico history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

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