Established in 1881 along the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, Gallup is a historic New Mexico city that has been nicknamed the “Heart of Indian Country”. It lies on the edge of a Navajo reservation and has a rich Native American heritage. Gallup was famously mentioned in the 1946 song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”, with the historic highway passing through the city.
Things to do in Gallup
In the heart of the city is the Gallup Cultural Center, which occupies a historic Santa Fe Depot. It highlights the unique history of Gallup and its railway heritage, as well as the role of coal mining in its development. The collection of Native American crafts reflects the diversity of the area’s tribal groups. A highlight is the exhibit dedicated to the Navajo Code Talkers, who played an important role in World War II.
You can learn more about Gallup’s industrial heritage at the Rex Museum, which occupies a late 19th-century building that once served as a brothel. After your visit, head to the Route 66 Loop Statue. Constructed from metal by Charles Mallery, it appears like a giant Hot Wheels track.
On the eastern outskirts of Gallup is Red Rock Park, which explores the Anasazi heritage of the area. It lies atop several Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites that date from around 300 to 1200 AD. In the Red Rock Park Museum, you can learn about the present-day Zuni, Hopi and Navajo people while admiring the displays of Native American pottery, rugs and silver.
Getting around Gallup
Gallup Municipal Airport is a five-minute drive from the city centre and has regular flights to Phoenix. Albuquerque International Sunport is around 2.5 hours away. Amtrak’s “Southwest Chief” connects to the Gallup railway station and the city centre is compact enough to explore on foot.