Lincoln

Lincoln is a historic settlement in Bonito Valley, situated between the Sacramento Mountains and Capitan Mountains. The place stretches along a mile with buildings from the 1870s at an elevation of about 5,700 feet (1,740 m).

The settlement was renamed from La Placita del Rio Bonito to Lincoln in 1869 after Lincoln County was established. A turbulent period of territorial conflicts followed that shaped the place's development.

The Anderson Freeman Visitor Center shows exhibits about Native American heritage of the region, frontier life, and the Lincoln County War through artifacts and displays. The buildings themselves tell stories of the people who lived and worked here.

The place can be explored on foot and there are nine museum buildings to visit, with most open Thursday through Monday. It is advisable to wear sturdy shoes and allow time to adjust to the elevation, as the settlement is in the mountains.

The Tunstall Store preserves its original 19th-century merchandise, shelving, and display cases showing how a frontier trading post really looked. Visitors can see how people of that time shopped and what products were available.

Location: Lincoln County

Elevation above the sea: 1,726 m

GPS coordinates: 33.49194,-105.38389

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:01