Education Resources

Lesson Plans Related to Lincoln County, New Mexico

Lockdown in Lincoln (Torreon) Lesson Plan

Irons in the Fire (Branding) Lesson Plan

History Where It Happened-Virtual Tour of NM Historic Sites

From Horse to Iron Horse (Transportation in the Settlement of the West) - Lesson Plan

On-Site Educational Programs

You are invited to history in your own backyard!  If Billy the Kid returned to Lincoln in 2022, he would have no trouble finding his way around.  Lincoln offers a uniquely well-preserved historic experience where you can experience history where it happened.  Most of our museums and structures date back to the late 1800s and give students the opportunity to learn about the western expansion story while also understanding the resulting culture clash that impacted previously established communities and peoples.

Our goal is to give your students an in-person appreciation of our shared history while incorporating concepts that tie in with NM standards for your social studies curriculum.

Not able to come to Lincoln?  Please contact our Instructional Coordinators, Alanea White or Rachel Walden, for information regarding a presentation at your school.  For more information about on-site tours or in-class presentations, please contact:

• Alanea.White@dca.nm.gov or Rachel.Walden@dca.nm.gov (most-reliable communication method) 
•  or call:  575-653-4025 ext. 4

On-Site Tour Scheduling (weather permitting):

(Please contact us 2-4 weeks in advance to schedule your tour).

School tours are by appointment only.

• Morning Session:  10:00-12:00 (Not including bathroom or lunch breaks.)
• Afternoon Session:  12:00-2:00  (Not including bathroom or lunch breaks.)

*** If you considering both Lincoln and Fort Stanton Historic Site, tour times will be adjusted to allow a break for both students and staff.

Touring Lincoln and Fort Stanton Historic Sites:  

Lincoln and Fort Stanton Historic Sites are within 12 miles of each other and both provide completely different learning opportunities for your students.  Since the stories of both sites are connected by the Lincoln County War, you may consider a tour at one site in the morning, a lunch break and then complete the experience with a tour of the other site in the afternoon.  For most classes, this option is typically influenced by drive time and bus schedules.

Teachers & Chaperones:

Lincoln Historic Site can accommodate tours up to 60 students.  For safety reasons, please plan on a teacher/chaperone to student ratio of 1 adult for every 10 students.  Large groups will be split into two smaller groups.

It is important that chaperones understand their role in supervising students.  At both sites, the buildings themselves should be treated as artifacts, as well as the items contained within.  Students should be instucted not to touch or sit on artifacts or funtiture, not to walk or climb on structures or walls and not to climb, run or jump while inside buildings.  Students should also be instructed to use "inside voices" while in the museums and to stay with the tour guide at all times, especially while moving along the highway through Lincoln Historic Site.

Cost:  

Tours of Lincoln Historic Site are free for Educational Groups.

Weather:

Our tour includes several locations with considerable time spent outdoors.  Temperatures can be 20-30 degrees cooler, especially on windy days.  Students should be encouraged to bring layered clothing.  Other considerations are sunscreen, umbrellas or bug repellant.

Lunch:  

Although food and drinks are not allowed inside the museums, tours have been scheduled to allow time for a lunch after completion of your tour or prior to the start of your tour time.  An outdoor amphitheatre near the Visitor's Center parking lot and a community park both provide bench seating, picnic tables, shade and trash cans.

Food is not available for purchase on site.   

Parking & Restrooms:

The Visitor's Center parking lot has parking and turn-around space for buses and private vehicles.  Restrooms are available at the Visitor's Center, so it is recommended that you arrive 15-20 minutes before your tour start time to allow for a restroom break.

Ready to schedule your tour?

Please contact our Instructional Coordinators, Alanea White or Rachel Walden, to inquire about availability for your desired tour date and discuss additional details.  We hope to see you soon at Lincoln Historic Site!

• Alanea.White@dca.nm.gov or Rachel.Walden@dca.nm.gov
• 575-653-4025 ext. 4