Grant, New Mexico – Gallup, NM to Amarillo, TX
After checking out the murals and the muffler man in Gallup, NM, we head back on the road and stop at Grants, NM for breakfast.
We find here a community that is not only embracing its past glory in route 66, but also working to build a new future for itself. This might be one model of how to keep these communities alive after they were bypassed by the interstate.
We had breakfast at El Cafecito – a bustling restaurant proudly displaying its historic route 66 credentials and also filled with locals. I have the tasty Larry’s special, which I have to ask what it is – since it is assumed I know. They come with all homemade tortillas and red and green sauces on the side.
We talk with the owner, Larry, at the counter and find out he is a fifth generation rancher. “Well, my wife is the real owner of this place.” He tells us proudly. He has over 50 head of cattle on his 1,000 and 2,500 acre ranches. “That is all the land can support here”.
He is also selling piñon seeds that he has roasted. He collects the seeds that only sprout every seven years, “sometimes every four if you are lucky.” They give us a sample as we see all the locals seem to be buying it up. I immediately pop one in my mouth and eat it. They look aghast and tell me it is more like a pumpkin seed and you don’t eat the shells. Oops. One waitress comes to my defense and says some do just eat them whole. We buy our small Ziploc bag and head on our way, not before he tells us of more local sites we need to see before we leave.
Siri reads an article that the city is sponsoring an annual mural project. This year’s theme is explained on the city’s website.
For a long time, our community vision has been set upon the past. Looking to the “good old days” of the mining industry, the Route 66 Fever, or even returning to the Carrot Capitol of the world. Like most things, we need to move on from our past and grow into our future. That’s where “Postcards from the Future” comes in.
For a long time, our community vision has been set upon the past. Looking to the “good old days” of the mining industry, the Route 66 Fever, or even returning to the Carrot Capitol of the world. Like most things, we need to move on from our past and grow into our future. That’s where “Postcards from the Future” comes in.
“Postcards from the Future” will encourage artists to transform landscapes, buildings, and streetscapes into a vision of Grants that is aspirational. Rather than focusing on what is behind us; we want to imagine and conceptualize what is ahead of us. Artists are encouraged to reach out throughout the year to enter into the MainStreet artist directory to be notified of upcoming mural opportunities.
Our next stop is the New Mexico Mining Museum which has a replica of a uranium mine underground. We take the miner’s elevator down to “M* for mine and it feels like we are transported – to rail cars, active mining equipment, and even the employee lunch room. As we go back up to “S” for surface, the main museum provides a great history of the area and how uranium in 1950’s was like the gold rush of the 1850’s.
We talk with Monique at the counter, and Les, who was a former miner and also is past executive director of the museum. We ask him about the front page article saying that new executive orders may reopen the mines. Is this good news for the town? “Hell, yes” he says. “We are dying out here.” And then he explains that there are now safer ways to extract uranium without as much negative health and environmental impacts. “Yes, it may be less labor intensive, but even 200 jobs here would be a good thing.”
They both extoll the virtues of their community. There is a fun run, sock hop, old car show, and more planned by the city’s new marketing director. Les tells us that they are surrounded by national parks, forests and more. “You could spend a whole month here and not be bored. I’ve spent my whole life and I haven’t seen it all.” They both tell us to check out the murals, and other sites before we leave.
We almost think about the possibilities of staying longer. “It could the next North Bend, WA, ” Siri says, which advertises itself as the recreation capital of the the northwest.
We feel welcomed here and think that this community is going to make it just fine.
Siri and David Adventures 