The Ruidoso River Museum is located in Ruidoso, New Mexico. The collection features artifacts, photographs and documents relating to the notable figures of the Old West and those involved in the

Lincoln County War The Lincoln County War was an Old West conflict between rival factions which began in 1878 in Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory, the predecessor of the state of New Mexico, and continued until 1881. The feud became famous because of the pa ...

, including Billy the Kid, sheriffs William Brady and Pat Garrett and lawyer and businessman Alexander McSween. It houses the world's largest collection of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett items.* The museum also houses a range of archaeological relics and celebrity memorabilia. Notable museum items include Pat Garrett's solid gold sheriff's badge,Gardner, Mark Lee. ''To Hell on a Fast Horse LP: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and the Epic Chase to Justice in the Old West''. HarperCollins Publishing, 2010, p. 456 Billy the Kid's rifle, and Pat Garrett's original Colt Model 1877 Thunderer revolver. The museum was rated number 8 among ''True West'' magazine's "2009 Top 10 Western Museums".Alt URL
/ref> In 2010, the museum was featured on The Travel Channel's ''Mysteries At The Museum'' Season 1 Episode 7: Volume 7.

References

External links

*
Pat Garrett’s original Colt Model 1877 Thunderer Revolver

Pat Garrett’s solid gold Sheriff’s badge

Pat Garrett’s solid gold Sheriff’s badge

Exterior of the Museum (1)

Exterior of the Museum (2)
Museums in Lincoln County, New Mexico American West museums in New Mexico {{NewMexico-museum-stub