On our trip to New Mexico, we visited Old Mesilla, near where my grandparents lived in Mesilla Park. Mesilla was settled by families from New Mexico and Mexico, but, after the Gadsden Purchase, became part of the United States. During the Civil War, Mesilla was the capital of the Arizona Territory!
As we walked around, we noticed many references to Billy the Kid and discovered that he had been tried and sentenced to death at the county courthouse. However, he escaped before the sentence could be carried out (only to be shot down later by Pat Garrett!).
End of history lesson!
Here is one of the local shops.
melinda anderson photography 