Help Billy Rest in Peace
Not Behind Jail Bars
When Billy the Kid was killed in 1881, his grave was marked with a simple wooden cross. In 1931, the “PALS” headstone was added for Billy and his friends Charlie Bowdre and Tom Folliard. A footstone followed in 1940.
Over time, vandals and souvenir hunters damaged the site, even stealing the footstone multiple times. A protective cage was eventually built around the graves. While it serves its purpose of protecting the gravesite, to many, it evokes the image of a jail. Billy famously broke out of several jails during his short life and it’s unfortunate that he should be spending eternity in one.
Since our founding in Fort Sumner in 1987, the Billy the Kid Outlaw Gang has been dedicated to protecting, preserving, and promoting the true history of Billy the Kid. Now, after eight long years of planning, we are proud to announce that our cage remodel project is finally finished!
A huge thanks to everyone who donated their time and money to this effort. We couldn’t have done it without you. We also extend our sincere thanks to Melendrez Welding, the Village of Fort Sumner, Mayor Gallegos and members of the council, and the Fort Sumner Chamber of Commerce.
But we’re not done yet! Our next improvement will be to remove the security bar currently holding down Billy’s tombstone, as it has begun to rust and cause damage. We plan to replace it with something that will still prevent theft, while making the inscription easier to read and protecting the tombstone for years to come.
With your continued help, we can finish restoring Billy's gravesite.
Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to making it happen. Help us give Billy a better resting place.
Fill out the form to the right to donate today.
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, all contributions are fully tax-deductible. If we are fortunate enough to exceed our fundraising goal, any additional donations will still go directly towards our mission—supporting other preservation projects and helping print educational materials for Billy the Kid events. Every gift, large or small, helps us protect this important piece of history with the public.