In 1926 Route 66 was aligned through the town following NM state highway 6 and the town began catering to the travellers. Right from the start, the coal mining industry was important as there were mines located very close to the town (see Defiance, just 9 mi. The local Navajo Indians traded there and knew the town as " spanned across" in refrence to a footbridge across the Western Rio Puerco River next to the station. The spot had been chosen because it was a stage coach stop and because there was a small village including a saloon, general store (the Blue Goose). The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (later the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR) laid its tracks west, across the continental divide and built a stop at its railhead in 1881 which it named Gallup. Gallup was an auditor and paymaster for the A&P Railway, he was based at this station, and the railway workers used to go to "Gallup's" to collect their paychecks.īy the way, Gallup is an ancient name dating back to Anglo-Saxon Britain and meant a fast runner (old Norse " walup"), it evolved into "wallop" and "gallop". The constant warfare with the Navajo led to the establishment of The "Old" Fort Wingate near Grants in 1862, which in 1864 moved to Wingate, just east of Gallup.ĭavid L. Edward Fitzgerald "Ned" Beale passed through Gallup en route to the Colorado River in 1857 (it used camels as pack animals). The American Army scouted the area and an expedition led by Lt. In 1821 Mexico won its independence from Spain and New Mexico became part of the new country but after its defeat during the 1846-48 war with the U.S., Mexico ceded it to the victors. The Navajo people from the north raided these Spanish pueblos and settlers constantly. The Pueblo Revolt in 1680 expelled the Spaniards until 1692, when they returned and subdued the Natives. Lack of gold dismayed the Spanish who put off conquering the region until 1597, when they incorporated it to their American Empire. Gallup Main Street Gallup: Neon Signs and Main Street, Route 66, Gallup, NM, Source The Zuni Pueblo people were the first to meet the Spanish when Francisco Vásquez de Coronado's expedition reached the area in 1540 searching for the wealthy cities of Cibola. In historic times, the Pueblo people lived in the valleys and used the rivers to irrigate their crops of corn and squash. New Mexico has been inhabited for more than ten thousand years. Gallup is the county seat of McKinley county, and is the most populous city along Route 66 between Albuquerque NM and Flagstaff AZ. Time zone: Mountain (MST): UTC minus 7 hours. Enable Javascript for a better user experience, and to see the images on this webpage About Gallup, New Mexico Facts, Trivia and useful informationĮlevation 6,468 ft (1.971 m), population 21,495 (2021). When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. 666!ĭrive by and enjoy Gallup NM and its classic landmarks during your Route 66 Road Trip!Ĭoolidge Route 66 in Gallup NM Index to this page Gallup was mentioned in the song Get your Kicks on Route 66, and don't miss the US 66 spur that was known as The Route of the Beast, U.S.
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