Santa Fe in Santa Fe County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Billy The Kid

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 13, 2012

1. Billy The Kid Marker

Inscription. The notorious New Mexico outlaw, also known as William Bonney, was captured and sucessfully imprisoned for the last time in the downstairs jail housed in this, the Cornell Building, at 208 W. San Francisco St., Santa Fe, from December 27, 1880 to April 3, 1881. On that date he was moved to Mesilla, New Mexico, for trial. He was found guilty, sentenced to hang, and moved to Lincoln County jail, from which he escaped. He was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico on July 14, 1881.

Erected 1944 by Murray J. Cornell, on August 16.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 35° 41.253′ N, 105° 56.46′ W. Marker is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in Santa Fe County. Marker is at the intersection of West San Francisco Street and Galisteo Street, on the left when traveling west on West San Francisco Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 208-B W San Francisco St, Santa Fe NM 87501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. “Homage to the Burro” (a few steps from this marker); Richard P. "Dickie" Montoya (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Museum of Fine Arts (about 600 feet away); Santa Fe Plaza

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(about 600 feet away); The Spitz Clock (about 600 feet away); U.S.S. Santa Fe CL-60 (about 700 feet away); Officer's Quarters (about 700 feet away); To the Heroes (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Fe.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for Billy the Kid. William H. Bonney (1859–1881), better known as Billy the Kid, “was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier outlaw in the American West. According to legend, he killed 21 men, but he is generally accepted to have killed between four and nine.

“[He] was 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) ... tall with blue eyes, a smooth complexion, and prominent front teeth. He was said to be friendly and personable at times, and many recalled that he was as ‘lithe as a cat.’ Contemporaries described him as a ‘neat’ dresser who favored an ‘unadorned Mexican sombrero.’ These qualities, along with his cunning and celebrated skill with firearms, contributed to his paradoxical image, as both a notorious outlaw and beloved folk hero.

“Relatively unknown

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 13, 2012

2. Billy The Kid Marker

On the right, on the wall of the building.

during most of his lifetime, Billy was catapulted into legend in 1881 when New Mexico’s governor, Lew Wallace, placed a price on his head. In addition, the Las Vegas [New Mexico] and the New York Sun carried stories about his exploits. Many other newspapers followed suit. After his death, several biographies were written that portrayed the Kid in varying lights.” (Submitted on April 15, 2012, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

The Cornell Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 13, 2012

3. The Cornell Building

Image of Billy The Kid on the Marker image. Click for full size.

4. Image of Billy The Kid on the Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2012, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,786 times since then and 347 times this year. Last updated on May 14, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 14, 2012, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.