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, we hope to transform the cage into a more welcoming memorial—one that better reflects Billy’s story.
As shown in the sketch below, we plan to add a peaked roof, a Celtic knot as a nod to Billy's Irish heritage, and a few decorative touches to transform the cage into something more visually appealing.
We think Billy deserves better than to spend forever behind bars but we can’t do this work alone. With your help, we can turn the cage into something that truly honors this Old West icon.
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.
The BTKOG is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and donations are tax deductible.