They were closed on a day we came, but at least they had a sign up letting us know that the air…read moreconditioning was getting repaired. Walking around the site though was still very nice. You got a really good shot of what kinds of items are used in the railway, and taking a good look at the railway waiting room. I'm hoping that I can get back here again and catch them when they're open.

The Tucumcari Railroad Museum is located on the northwest side of Tucumcari, NM…read more The original depot was built in 1926. Since 2014, the museum has been incorporated as a 501.C.3 non profit. I visited on a Sunday, August 2, 2026, however, it was closed. They are closed Sunday-Tuesday. Still, my dog and I walked the entire premises and peeked inside at everything we missed. The Spanish Mission-style architecture is quite alluring. Memorabilia was on display - blasts from the past I'm sure. Nearby, the tracks are still active and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad. This route is the Tucumcari Subdivision - which was historically part of the Golden State Route. I think the highlight of any walkthrough here would be the GP-38 diesel simulator. One is able to manipulate a "real hands-on control stand." There something about trains. I'll be back with my children in tow next time. Works Cited https://www.tucumcarirailroadmuseum.org/ https://www.trains.com/pro/freight/class-i/siding-projects-dropped-in-changes-to-capital-plans-for-up-ns-merger/

Bobby Troup wrote "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66", a song that Nat King Cole made famous…read more The small New Mexico town of Tucumcari is part of the original Route 66 mentioned in that song. Tucumcari is usually known for its vintage neon signs at the many "mid-century retro motels" scattered along the route. You'll see quite a few American classic cars cruising up and down the street - especially at night. But long after all of those happenings... and only since 1997, the Route 66 Monument has made its mark on the map. Artist Tom Coffin was commissioned for the job. It features "a sloping base that looks a bit like a Tex-Mex temple made of 1) sandstone tires, and 2) serpentine outlines of two-lane road." Pointing westward, it also is accentuated by chrome, a tail fin and lights beckoning to the 1950s, and a "pair of tubular retro sixes." I thought it was so cool that I parked my 2020 Jeep slightly behind it in the Tucumcari Convention Center parking lot for a quick photo. Someday I will have my own American classic parked next to it. Works Cited roadsideamerica.com/story/14934

This Monument is really cool. You got the choice of taking the picture on from the street side or…read morethe parking lot but if you take it from the parking lot you're going to have to flip it inside of your photos so that the 66 isn't backwards. We did both. Anyway make sure you get the chance to stop by this one it's worth the 5 minutes.

Chris and Brandon helped us avert a major crisis on our RV trip. They arrived within 10 minutes -…read moreon Memorial Day weekend, no less - to replace a broken lock on our travel trailer door. The replacement lock we had bought at a camping store didn't fit perfectly, and Chris patiently adjusted everything until it was perfect. The guys were super nice and friendly, and didn't even charge us an arm and a leg. A definite 5-star place!

The tiny town of San Jon, NM, has a small yet humble Veterans Memorial…read more It's right next to the San Jon Village Office, a government office. By the way, San Jon is pronounced san-HOHN (like hone). This is quite a simple memorial, but I liked it. I have a few requests, though, after my August 3, 2026 visit... One of the flags (Air Force) needs replacing as the bottom has been torn. Or maybe it just wasn't clipped now that I have reviewed my photos. Also, the Space Force flag is missing. There's not even a pole for it. I would recommend replacing the POW MIA with the Space Force flag, as it is the sixth branch of the US military. The grass has somewhat taken over the cracks in the concrete, but that American flag still waves strongly. Maybe hang the POW MIA flag underneath it until another slab can be added with the branch flags? The memorial is hexagonal & represents (again) the 5 branches of the military sans the Space Force emblem. In its place is a plaque that reads "This Nation will remain the land of free only so long as it is the home of the brave." At the bottom is a cross planted in the grass with helmet hanging on the right side. While I could not narrow down my search to the number of military members from San Jon, I did find this interesting statistic: "New Mexico's veteran population was tied for sixth in the nation for concentration of veterans." What?! And our population (according to Google AI on 08/09/2026) is 36th in the nation! This is why I make sure to stop at any and every veterans memorial I see when possible to thank my fellow New Mexicans and Americans, and say a few prayers for them and their families. Works Cited https://www.dws.nm.gov/Portals/0/2025_Veterans_Profile.pdf?ver=VmUQaihPxZ5VHg550U9u_g%3d%3d