Town celebrates Route 66 legacy with vibrant murals
By Aliyah Chavez
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TUCUMCARI, New Mexico (KOAT) — Tucumcari, New Mexico, is preserving its rich history through vibrant murals that capture the essence of Route 66, with local artists leading the way. The town is not just a place to pass through; it’s a destination to stop and admire the murals that stretch across buildings, alleys, and storefronts, each telling a piece of the Mother Road’s story.
“Every time you blink, there’s another one going up somewhere,” said Kristine Olsen with the Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce.
She’s emphasizing the town’s commitment to public art.
The murals are a significant draw for tourists and locals alike, celebrating the town’s connection to Route 66.
“Having public art, having things like that that people can see and appreciate, I think, is definitely a draw for Tucumcari, and I think it’s a draw for us too because of the number of murals that we have,” Olsen said.
The latest mural underway honors the centennial, capturing the essence of Route 66 travel through Tucumcari. Franchesca Velasquez and Jazmine Jimenez, a mother-daughter duo from Tucumcari, have been painting murals for the last five years, and this is their 10th.
“We were blown away, we were just so excited,” said Velazquez, who wanted to bring that nighttime 70s Tucumcari downtown feel back to life on a back wall, emphasizing their desire to revive the town’s legacy on this famous stretch of road.
“Us bringing all of the paintings and stuff back is our way of lighting it back up, and hopefully, bit by bit, it will just keep on growing and glowing,” Jimenez said.
With this milestone year, the town expects to see more art like this, encouraging creativity and community involvement.
“Be creative and express their ideas and creativity and be part of our community,” Olsen said.
These murals remind travelers that sometimes the best stories aren’t found on the road, but on the walls beside it.
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