Gallup (New Mexico)

You can go home again. I was in, or went though, Gallup in the early 1970s. Only thing I remember is getting stopped at a police road block. This time we spent a day mostly driving up and down Route 66. I'll bet you never thought you would see GALLUP and CULTURAL on the same sign.

You are looking at it, Route 66 through downtown Gallup. When we left the Cultural Center we followed a Corvette through town

This is the county courthouse. It has a WPA art collection that is worth the hassle of dealing with security.

Murals in the courtroom.

Artwork in the halls.

In the district attorney's office.

The walkway between the old courthouse and annex building. Even in this town people walk all over me.

Manzano's RV Park

Manzano's RV Park is by far one of the best we have visited. Like many hillside parks it was wisely laid out taking advantage of what contours were there. Consequently, the sites are in an irregular pattern. Then, the intervening space is bordered with rock walls and landscaped with local plants and trees. It is quite lovely.

Matilda in the morning

It is not an "official" 55+ park but without a pool or playground it is not a family resort. It is the first park where we had our own solar clothes drier.

Cholla in bloom

On some evening you get a "complimentary sunset.

Mimbres Mountains

There were two routes from Bernardo to Silver City, New Mexico. One was the scenic route west through the Mimbres and Black Range Mountains. The other was the straight and flat way south to Deming, NM, and then back north to Silver City. We chose the latter. But, what did we miss? The scenery that the driver does not see as the poor soul negotiates 15 and even 10 mph hairpin turns. Could we have done it? Of course, it is only a twisty-turny road with fallen rock (yes, it does happen) and the occasional mule deer. At the top, Emory Pass, I snapped a few photos.

This is a representative view.

This is where we came from.

This is where we are going. You are looking at. . . .

The beautiful town of Kingston, NM, home of the famous "Spit and Whittle Club." There are other spit and whittle clubs but they may not be recognized by the Kingston club

Another example of anti-immigrant feelings.

A reminder that the desert and mountains can teach valuable lessons.

Historic Silver City

We have not spent much time in "historic" downtown Silver City. If we had room at home or in the RV or were not downsizing (or attempting to) we would probably spend more than we should at the art galleries. So, better to avoid temptation. There is a lot of other stuff to do.

Beyond materialistic concerns, the town does offer any number of interests, architecture, which we like, and restaurants which of course hold no interest for us. I have a small number of photos here to give an inadequate sample of the downtown buildings.

roof line detail

The Place Hotel, above, is a local landmark. The hotel entrance is in the middle of the block, the rest are small shops, or would be shops/galleries. Below is the entrance to the Murray Hotel, obviously a later structure with its Art Deco design.

I have no idea about the pedigree of the Silver City Press building but I really like it. Below is an generic example of the type of building you find downtown. Art, architecture, food, it is all here. If you want Tractor Supply you will have to go back to the highway.

Pinos Altos

According to legend, in 1860 some fellows heading west stopped to drink from a stream and found gold. That was good enough reason to settle and Pinos Altos grew and over 150 years later it has the skyrocketed to a population of 300. Ha ha, you say. Well, "Judge" Roy Bean had a store here before bringing law and order to west Texas. Billy the Kid, when he was just a kid, wandered around in these parts. The church (1890), pictured below, is the Hearst Church built by William Randolph's ma and pa.

Below is the Buckhorn Saloon. (http://buckhornsaloonandoperahouse.com/index.html) I have added the website as it has a better photo of the façade and it gives all sort of info, interior photos, and menu. If anyone is willing to pick up the check we would be glad to meet you there.

Next door to the Buckhorn (there is an enclosed connection) is the Opera House. You can find interior photos on the website.

Finally, the building below is something like the local convenience store. You can get ice cream and wander about. The Hearst Church is a coop art gallery and there are others in town. It is a nice little town with a lot of original buildings in a beautiful natural area.

Mimbres Culture

Mimbres Culture Heritage Site is focused on the prehistoric native population of the Mimbres River Valley c.200-1200 CE (Common Era). These people are thought to be related to the people of Chaco Canyon, a large and complex settlement south of Farmington, New Mexico. The Mimbres people, however, had a unique ceramic tradition, beautifully decorated black on white pottery. (http://anthropology.si.edu/cm/mimbres.htm)

This village, one of many located in the valley, was relocated from the hilltop in the following photo.

The later site, although there is excellent interpretive panels along the trail, gives little indication of the location of the various buildings. The Grand Kiva gives some hints as the dust has buried the foundation creating a low mound.

Also at the site are the Wood House and the Gooch House. Both are adobe. The simpler of the two, the Wood, was built while the Apaches were still a danger and had firing loops and a steep roof as defensive aspects. The Gooch house (no photo) was built a bit later and exhibits added features.

Wood House

Open Pit Mining

I know copper is important. I know the technology of mining and processing can be fascinating, I know they are committed to restoration, Even with these consideration. . . .

Chino Mine