Historic Downtown Gallup on Route 66

Constructed in 1938 by the architectural firm Trost & Trost, the McKinley County Courthouse is a stunning example of Spanish Pueblo Revival architecture and a veritable shrine to New Deal-era art. The striking exterior features stepped-back massing, a bell tower with battered walls, projecting wooden caged bays, and prominent vigas. Inside, the working civic center doubles as an extraordinary art museum, boasting 19 distinct pieces of Works Progress Administration (WPA) art. The lobby welcomes visitors with elaborate tile wainscoting, handcrafted wooden furniture, intricately punched-tin pendant lighting, and Pueblo-style plaster paintings.

The 1928 El Morro Theatre stands as downtown Gallup's reigning architectural crown jewel. Designed by the renowned architect Carl Boller—famous for the KiMo in Albuquerque and the Lensic in Santa Fe—the building is a rare and highly ornate example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture infused with Moorish inspiration. Affectionately dubbed a 'castle of pleasure and art' upon its opening, the theater's striking facade immediately commands attention with its decorative half-round vaulting columns, arched windows, and a sculpted curvilinear parapet. Today, the 430-seat working venue retains its original magic, hosting everything from film screenings to vibrant community performing arts events.

Situated at the iconic corner of Historic Route 66 and Third Street, the Rex Museum is an eclectic repository of regional history enveloped in a striking beige sandstone building. Constructed by Italian stonemasons in a regional Stone Commercial Style, the two-story structure invites visitors to explore Gallup's raw and authentic past. Inside, rotating and permanent exhibits trace the city's evolution from its earliest Indigenous inhabitants through its booming railroad and coal mining days. With a classic neon Route 66 shield sign illuminating its facade, the museum stands as a bastion of Southwestern heritage.

Stepping into Richardson's Trading Post on Historic Route 66 is like walking into a living museum of the American Southwest. Established in 1913, this sprawling mercantile is a sensory overload characterized by creaking wooden floors and the rich aroma of cedar and leather. Showcases are packed to the rafters with a dizzying array of authentic Zuni lapidary work, hand-forged Navajo turquoise and silver jewelry, intricately carved Hopi kachinas, and beautifully tooled leather saddles. Beyond a mere retail space, it is one of the oldest, largest, and most authentic trading posts left in the United States, providing a direct link between modern collectors and master Indigenous artisans.

Tucked away inside the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce directly on Historic Route 66, the Navajo Code Talker Museum is an intimate but deeply moving tribute to the legendary Diné (Navajo) Marines of World War II. The exhibit features a rich collection of military memorabilia, vintage combat photographs, original radio equipment, and detailed displays explaining the mechanics of the famously unbreakable code. Though relatively small in footprint compared to traditional museums, the space offers a powerful and concentrated dose of regional patriotism, honoring the young men whose linguistic brilliance helped secure an Allied victory in the Pacific Theater.

' The stunning two-story, stucco-clad Mission Revival building pulls double duty as an active Amtrak station and an expansive cultural hub. Ascend to the second floor to explore the Storyteller Museum and the Gallery of the Masters, where exhibits showcase intricate Navajo weavings, Zuni inlay jewelry, Hopi baskets, and a profound permanent exhibit dedicated to the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. Downstairs, the space buzzes with the energy of locals gathering for coffee, surrounded by historic architecture and a striking mural by Diné artist Chester Kahn that pays homage to the region's complex trading post legacy.