Gallup, New Mexico: Indian Capital of the World

Gallup is a city in New Mexico, United States, located within McKinley County on U.S. Route 66, and 20 miles east of the state border with Arizona. The city is called the Indian Capital of the World due to its location in the center of Native American lands. It is served by Gallup Amtrak Station, Interstate 40, Route 602, and U.S. Route 491. Founded in 1881 and named after David Gallup, the city is situated on the Trails of the Ancients Byway, a scenic and historic byway in New Mexico. Gallup has several points of interest, such as the Red Rock Museum, the Gallup Cultural Center, and the Rex Museum. The city is home to the historic El Rancho Hotel, which was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on January 14, 1988. The building, located at 1000 E. Highway 66 on the Trails of the Ancients Byway, was built in 1936 and designed by Joe Massagalia. This historic hotel hosted many famous guests, including Burt Lancaster, Gregory Peck, Humphrey Bogart, Jane Fonda, Kirk Douglas, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Mitchum, and William Holden.