Historic District

New Mexico


Route 66, the 'main street of America,' runs straight through downtown Gallup's historic district, lined with pretty, renovated light-red sandstone buildings housing kitschy souvenir shops and galleries selling Native American arts and crafts. A brochure available at the visitor center details around 20 noteworthy structures, built along 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sts between 1895 and 1938. They include the small Rex Museum, displaying historical memorabilia in a former hotel.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby New Mexico attractions

1. Rex Museum

0.1 MILES

The small Gallup Historical Museum, in the turn-of-the-19th-century former Rex Hotel, is stuffed with assorted old photos and memorabilia, mostly related…

2. Gallup Cultural Center

0.18 MILES

This cultural center houses a good little museum of Native American art on the 2nd floor, including excellent collections of kachina dolls both new and…

3. Navajo Nation Museum

19.75 MILES

The sleek and modern Navajo Nation Museum, dedicated exclusively to the history and culture of the Nation, punches well above its weight. Exhibits range…

4. Navajo Veterans Memorial Park

20.24 MILES

Below the eponymous Window Rock you'll find the Navajo Veterans Memorial Park, whose circular layout is a metaphor for the rising and setting of the sun…