Fort Sumner in De Baca County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Billy the Kid's Elusive Tombstone
Photographed by James Hulse, March 24, 2025
1. Billy the Kid's Elusive Tombstone Marker
Billy the Kids tombstone was stolen in 1951. Its location was a mystery for twenty-six years until 1976 when it was recovered in Granbury, Texas, by Joe Bowlin.
The tombstone was stolen again on Feb. 8, 1981 and recovered four days later in Huntington Beach, California.
Governor Bruce King arranged for De Baca County Sheriff, "Big Jim" McBride, to fly to Los Angeles to retrieve the marker.
Chamber officials, along with Jarvis P. Garrett, officially reset the tombstone in iron shackles at Billy's feet on May 30, 1981.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is May 30, 1981.
Location. 34° 24.227′ N, 104° 11.612′ W. Marker is in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in De Baca County. It is on Billy the Kid Drive south of Pecan Drive. The marker is located in the Old Fort Sumner Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3501 Billy the Kid Dr, Fort Sumner NM 88119, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern New Mexico and in the Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Southwest, on the Great Plains, on the Southern Plains, and specifically on the High Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Comancherνa, the Dust Bowl, and the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Billy the Kid (here, next to this marker); Tom O'Folliard (here, next to this marker); Charlie Bowdre (here, next to this marker); Lucien Bonaparte Maxwell (within shouting distance of this
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Old Fort Sumner and Billy the Kids Grave (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . Billy the Kid. Wikipedia
Henry McCarty (September 17 or November 23, 1859 July 14, 1881), alias William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, was an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who was linked to nine murders: four for which he was solely responsible, and five in which he may have played a role alongside others. He is also noted for his involvement in New Mexico's Lincoln County War.(Submitted on April 5, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed by James Hulse, March 24, 2025
2. The marker next to Billy the Kid's Gravesite
Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 436 times since then and 95 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 5, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
