The "Indian Capital of the World" sits deep within the New Mexico desert
Nicknamed the “Indian Capital of the World” for its location at the junction of the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni reservations, the small New Mexico city of Gallup has a vibrant culture that has helped it overcome great hardships. Founded in 1881 as a railroad town, this seat of McKinley County is the most populous city between Flagstaff and Albuquerque with over 21,600. Though Gallup has long contended with poverty, wildfires and crime, this city has much to celebrate, from its many cultural events to its history as a Western-genre filming location and its thriving arts and crafts industry.
Gallup is a historic Route 66 city many stories to tell.
Sitting along Route 66, Gallup offers great history and stunning natural beauty.
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Red-rock recreation surrounds this city
Located 20 miles east of the Arizona border, Gallup is surrounded by pristine desert landscapes that served as filming locations for John Wayne and Kirk Douglas’ Western films in the 1940s and 1950s. Over 30 miles of hiking and biking trails branch off from major highways and lead into painted deserts and up rock formations like the Hogback and the Zuni Mountains. “There’s tons of hiking options here; one of the most hiked trails is out at Red Rock Park, which offers beautiful views of the town,” says Alyssia Morris with the Gallup Visitors Center. “You’re also not far from Window Rock and Zuni Pueblo.” The city itself is full of mini-parks like the fantasy-themed Playground of Dreams. “In the downtown area, we have four to five blocks that feature murals and neon signs that are popular for self-guided walking tours," Morris says.
The bright murals around Gallup help provide pops of color around the city.
Red Rock park near Gallup is home to the stunning Church Rock as well as the red rock the park is named after.
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A growing and competitively-priced housing market
Gallup began as a railroad town and experienced a coal mining boom, those industries have long since waned the city continues to grow thanks to a thriving arts and crafts scene as well as its lower cost of living. Much of Gallup’s housing stock dates to the mid-20th century and consists of ranch-style homes, however newer residences featuring Spanish Colonial or Pueblo styles continue to be built. Older, fixer-upper properties can sell for between $40,000 and $95,000, while manufactured homes built from the 1980s to 1990s vary in price from $70,000 to $315,000. Ranch-style or multi-floor properties have garnered sale prices between $110,000 and $505,000. Gallup’s streets are grid-patterned, and the average road may sit at an incline due to Gallup’s hilly location. Sidewalks and fences are ubiquitous, while desert foliage provides shade during the sweltering summer months.
Ranch style homes have been a prominent style in Gallup for years.
Pueblo Revival styled homes have started becoming more popular around Gallup.
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Unique craftsmanship and cuisine in Gallup
An estimated 70% of Native American jewelry is produced from Gallup’s cottage industry, and the 9th Street Flea Market sells these crafts and other goods every Saturday. Gallup’s culinary scene reflects New Mexico’s diverse history with its Mexican-influenced Southwestern fare, its vintage 1950s diners and even a Punjabi buffet popular among truckers. In addition to retail giants like Walmart and Safeway, Gallup also has smaller food stores like the Westend Donut & Deli, which specializes in fresh-made, grab-and-go sandwiches, or Red Rock Beef Jerky.
Beautiful hand crafted Native American jewelry can be found all around Gallup.
Jerry's Cafe is one of the many Route 66 styled diners around Gallup.
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Celebrating indigenous cultures
Gallup’s unique intersection of Native American cultures is celebrated through educational institutions and community events alike. The Gallup Cultural Center commemorates the city’s pre-Columbian history, its Old West years and even the participation of several of its Navajo residents in World War II “code-talking” in the Pacific. During the summer months, the cultural center puts on ceremonial dances and arts shows. The Intertribal Celebration at Red Rock Park showcases the many indigenous cultures that converge in this part of the Southwest. “During our summer months, we have rodeos that take place, including the bull-riding national," Morris says. "Starting in June, we start having summer dances in the courthouse square.” Every December, the Red Rock Balloon Rally sees over 200 hot air balloons cruise past red sandstone bluffs around the city. El Morro Theatre, opened in 1928, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and continues to screen movies nearly a century after its opening.
The George Galanis Multicultural Center is a fantastic place to learn about Gallup's history.
The El Morro Theater in Gallup is a historic location dating back to 1928.
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Students attend the Gallup-McKinley County School District
The Gallup-McKinley County School District receives a C-plus rating from Niche, although that website ranks it among the top 5 school districts for athletes in the state. One of its high schools is named for Hiroshi Miyamura, a Japanese American hero of the Korean War and one of the last two surviving Medal of Honor recipients from that conflict.
Del Norte Elementary School has a C+ rating from Niche.
Gallup Middle School is in the top 10% for diversity among middle schools in the state.
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Keeping safe in Gallup
According to a 2023 FBI report, Gallup’s violent crime rate towers above state and national medians. The city is also susceptible to wildfires.
Highway and hospital access
Gallup is located deep in the New Mexico desert; Albuquerque is at least a two-hour drive down Interstate 40, while the regional hub of Farmington is 1 hour, 45 minutes up Highway 491. Amtrak has a stop in Gallup and the Navajo Transit System services the city, too. Enrolled members of Native American tribes can receive their healthcare from the Gallup Indian Median Center, while Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services is available for the whole community.
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