Gallup, NM

Address:Gallup, New Mexico

Come visit the center of Indian America and see a downtown full of murals that tells the story of Gallup, New Mexico on Route 66, with its famous red-rock canyons and deserts. There are more than 100 trading posts, shops and galleries in Gallup, making the town the undisputed Southwestern center for original Native American art. If you're looking for some great outdoor exercise you've come to the right place. Only several miles from Gallup you will find several trails in this desert region that are great for hiking, biking and climbing with spectacular views all around you. There are 15 national parks near Gallup, including the Grand Canyon, so there's no shortage of outdoor activities.

A visit to downtown Gallup will put you face to face with the Downtown Mural Project which has set out to retell the story of Gallup through a series of murals on immense wall spaces throughout Downtown. The murals are best seen by taking a walking tour. Besides learning where the murals are, you will hear about the artists' unique styles and what each mural represents. The murals depict some of the city's proudest and saddest moments, beginning with the earliest days of Gallup.

After visiting Gallup's red-rock canyons and lonely deserts, you may want to watch see some of the western films that feature this famous landscape, like Big Carnival, with Kirk Douglas; Four Faces West, with Joel McCrea; and The Bad Man, starring Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore and Ronald Reagan. These stars and many others stayed in a Route 66 hotel built by R. E. Griffith in 1937. Today, the El Rancho Hotel and Motel is one of Gallup's most notable landmarks and worth strolling through.

Gallup's most notable special event is the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial held every August. Native Americans converge on the town for a parade, dances, and an all-Indian rodeo east of town, at Red Rock State Park. It's a busy time in Gallup, so make reservations way in advance. If you miss the Ceremonial, try visiting Gallup on a Saturday, when many Native Americans come to town to trade. There is also a great flea market on Saturdays, north of town just off US 491. You can sample fry, Zuni and Acoma bread, eat mutton stew and shop for anything from jewelry to underwear. After the flea market, most Gallup-area residents, native and non-native alike, go to Earl's to eat.

While you're in town, shop at over 100 trading posts and pawnshops to buy jewelry and crafts of Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi tribes. The shops are mostly centered around Route 66 (Main Street) and Coal Avenue. The 12 blocks of downtown Gallup is best enjoyed on foot.

Visit West Route 66, which is now the Rex Museum and Red Rock park's rodeo arena and natural amphitheatre. Also check out the Anasazi ruins and the Red Rock Museum, where both modern and ancient examples of tribal arts and crafts are displayed. Have a look also at the pueblo revival McKinley County Court House on West Hill. The finest example of the decorative Spanish colonial revival style is the historic El Morro Theater, on West Coal.

Every evening from Memorial Day to Labor Day, dancers from a variety of area tribes sing, drum, and twirl in a stunning display of ritual. The dances take place at the Gallup Cultural Center on East 66 Avenue and Strong Street. The center also has a gift shop, a cafe, and a museum with a permanent exhibit on regional history, and other changing art exhibits. Admission to the center and dances is free.

There are plenty of places to eat in Gallup. A local favorite, Earl's, is a Denny's-style diner, with comfortable booths and chairs. The restaurant allows Native Americans to sell their wares to you while you eat but you can put up a sign asking not to be disturbed. The restaurant serves delicious New Mexican dishes such as huevos rancheros, enchiladas and smothered burritos. Other options include the El Rancho restaurant at the historic El Rancho Hotel, set in Old West décor, with heavy wooden furniture and movie memorabilia on the walls. The food is western-diner style, with dishes such as steak and eggs, hot cakes, atole (hot blue-corn cereal) or breakfast tacos. The Coffeehouse on Coal Avenue has delicious espresso and cappuccino and homemade cookies and muffins.

Virtually every accommodation (mostly budget hotels) in Gallup is located somewhere along Route 66, either near the I-40 interchange or on the highway through downtown. If you prefer to sleep among the red rocks, Red Rock State Park campground has 106 sites, 56 of which are hooked up with water and electricity. The sites are right against the buttes, providing amazing views from your camper or tent.

See Mexico style living at its finest in Gallup, located in northwest New Mexico on Route 66.