Call for information or to make a reservation ~ (800)545-9017
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Museums

Ruidoso Museums and Historic Sites

The more you know of history the greater appreciation you have of the present. It really wasn’t very long ago that horseback was the only way to travel in the West besides on foot. Fort Stanton just northeast of Ruidoso’s present airport was established in 1855 – that is over 50 years before New Mexico became the 47th state in 1912. Lincoln County is rich in history highlighted by the Lincoln County War of the 1870s that made Billy the Kid a famous outlaw. Explore the past with visits to area museums. They will enlighten you with information and provoke further interest as to how we got to where we are today.
Dowlin’s Historic Old Mill
641 Sudderth Dr, Ruidoso
(575) 257-2811
www.historicoldmill.com
Only one building in Ruidoso can be the oldest and this is it. It is fabled to be a hang out spot for Billy the Kid and features a working water wheel that still grinds flour these days.
Hubbard Museum of the American West
841 W Hwy 70, Ruidoso
(575) 378-4142
www.hubbardmuseum.org
Known as The Museum of the Horse when it first opened, this large facility offers so much more that the named evolved to the Hubbard Museum of the West. It is situated just on the east side of the race track on Hwy 70 and open daily from 9am to 5pm. The permanent collection of carriages, wagons, saddles and western artifacts is supplemented with a changing schedule of shows and events. Be sure to walk through the Free Spirits at Noisy Water display of bronze horses outside the museum.
Fort Stanton Museum & Visitor Center
Fort Stanton, NM
(575) 630-0044
www.fortstanton.com
This historic fort was originally built in 1855 to protect early settlers along the Rio Bonito from Apache raiding parties. Since the early days it has served as a home to hundreds of Buffalo Soldiers, Kit Carson, John “Black Jack” Pershing and Billy the Kid. The Fort was decommissioned in 1896, but has served as an interment camp for Germans and Japanese, a tuberculosis hospital and a rehabilitation institution for the mentally handicapped and drug abusers. The future use of Fort Stanton is not clear. Several different proposals are being discussed for possible funding.
Historic Lincoln
15 minute drive east of Capitan
(575) 653-4372
The entire village of Lincoln is like a living museum. There are actually 11 state monuments within the town limits and four of those are different museums. Memories of the old west come alive here with particular focus on the Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid.
Mescalero Apache Culture Center
Mescalero, NM
(575) 464-9254
Drive west on Hwy 70 about 25 minutes to the administrative center of the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Mescalero. You will find the Cultural Center near the large community center on the south side of the highway. It displays Apache clothing and basketry of the Chiricahua, White Mountain and Mescalero Apache tribes with photo exhibits and artifacts.
Smokey Bear Museum
102 Smokey Bear Blvd, Capitan
(575) 354-2298
Everyone has heard of Smokey Bear, the popular face to wild fire prevention. Did you know that the real Smokey came from the Capitan Mountains just north of Capitan? The Smokey Bear Museum commemorates his many contributions to making fire danger awareness a very public issue. You will find displays and exhibits of firefighting in general and Smokey Bear’s connection to the cause in particular. Admission is just $1/adults and $.50/children. www.byways.org/browse/byways/2062/places/3084/
Wildland Firefighter Museum
Smokey Bear Blvd, Capitan
(575)354-9808
www.wildlandfirefighter.net
Firefighters unique work and their tools are documented for display in this free museum in the center of Capitan. See interesting photos of firefighting in action and an evolution of technique. This is the only museum of its kind in the country.
White Oaks School Museum
45 minute drive NW of Ruidoso to White Oaks, NM
www.whiteoaksnewmexico.com
White Oaks is a ghost town northeast of Carrizozo that once supported over 5,000 residents in its mining days at the turn of the 20th century. The old four room schoolhouse has been restored as a museum to provoke memories of days gone by. It is open May through October on the weekends from 10am to 4pm.

The more you know of history the greater appreciation you have of the present.  It really wasn’t very long ago that horseback was the only way to travel in the West besides on foot.  Fort Stanton just northeast of Ruidoso’s present airport was established in 1855 – that is over 50 years before New Mexico became the 47th state in 1912.  Lincoln County is rich in history highlighted by the Lincoln County War of the 1870s that made Billy the Kid a famous outlaw. Explore the past with visits to area museums.  They will enlighten you with information and provoke further interest as to how we got to where we are today.

Ruidoso Museums and Historic Sites:

Dowlin’s Historic Old Mill
641 Sudderth Dr, Ruidoso
(575) 257-2811
www.historicoldmill.com

Only one building in Ruidoso can be the oldest and this is it.  It is fabled to be a hang out spot for Billy the Kid and features a working water wheel that still grinds flour these days.

Hubbard Museum of the American West
841 W Hwy 70, Ruidoso
(575) 378-4142
www.hubbardmuseum.org

Known as The Museum of the Horse when it first opened, this large facility offers so much more that the named evolved to the Hubbard Museum of the West.  It is situated just on the east side of the race track on Hwy 70 and open daily from 9am to 5pm.  The permanent collection of carriages, wagons, saddles and western artifacts is supplemented with a changing schedule of shows and events.  Be sure to walk through the Free Spirits at Noisy Water display of bronze horses outside the museum.

Fort Stanton Museum & Visitor Center
Fort Stanton, NM
(575) 630-0044
www.fortstanton.com

This historic fort was originally built in 1855 to protect early settlers along the Rio Bonito from Apache raiding parties. Since the early days it has served as a home to hundreds of Buffalo Soldiers, Kit Carson, John “Black Jack” Pershing and Billy the Kid.  The Fort was decommissioned in 1896, but has served as an interment camp for Germans and Japanese, a tuberculosis hospital and a rehabilitation institution for the mentally handicapped and drug abusers.  The future use of Fort Stanton is not clear.  Several different proposals are being discussed for possible funding.

Historic Lincoln
15 minute drive east of Capitan
(575) 653-4372

The entire village of Lincoln is like a living museum.  There are actually 11 state monuments within the town limits and four of those are different museums.  Memories of the old west come alive here with particular focus on the Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid.

Mescalero Apache Culture Center
Mescalero, NM
(575) 464-9254

Drive west on Hwy 70 about 25 minutes to the administrative center of the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Mescalero.  You will find the Cultural Center near the large community center on the south side of the highway.  It displays Apache clothing and basketry of the Chiricahua, White Mountain and Mescalero Apache tribes with photo exhibits and artifacts.

Ruidoso River Museum
101 Mechem, Ruidoso
(575) 257-0296

The new Ruidoso River Museum is an eclectic collection of exhibits that includes artifacts from the Titanic, amazing gemstones, celebrities from Angelina Jolie to Elvis, Native American history, jewelry of the rich and famous (including Liberace’s jeweled hammer and Mother Theresa’s own rosary), amazing artifacts from ancient and far-away cultures and natural wonders.  The museum’s primary focus, however, is on the infamous Lincoln County War, and the collection includes Pat Garrett’s Sheriff’s badge, Billy the Kid’s rifle, and Governor Lew Wallace’s mighty sword.

Smokey Bear Museum
102 Smokey Bear Blvd, Capitan
(575) 354-2298

Everyone has heard of Smokey Bear, the popular face to wild fire prevention.  Did you know that the real Smokey came from the Capitan Mountains just north of Capitan?  The Smokey Bear Museum commemorates his many contributions to making fire danger awareness a very public issue.  You will find displays and exhibits of firefighting in general and Smokey Bear’s connection to the cause in particular.

Wildland Firefighter Museum
Smokey Bear Blvd, Capitan
(575) 354-9808
www.wildlandfirefighter.net

Firefighters unique work and their tools are documented for display in this free museum in the center of Capitan.  See interesting photos of firefighting in action and an evolution of technique.  This is the only museum of its kind in the country.

White Oaks School Museum
45 minute drive NW of Ruidoso to White Oaks, NM
www.whiteoaksnewmexico.com

White Oaks is a ghost town northeast of Carrizozo that once supported over 5,000 residents in its mining days at the turn of the 20th century.  The old four room schoolhouse has been restored as a museum to provoke memories of days gone by.  It is open May through October on the weekends from 10am to 4pm.