El Morro National Monument: Ramah, New Mexico
The western pioneer version of graffiti can still be found in El Morro National Monument. It’s an easy stop on the New Mexico segment of Route 66 and is an hour south of Gallup.
El Morro sits amid a stunning dusty landscape, and it became a famous destination on Route 66 because of its working watering hole. It was initially used by the Zuni, who built pueblos in the area during the later part of the 13th century.
There are even some rock art inscriptions that are visible from that time. A Spanish expedition came through around 1583, followed by even more explorers searching for riches. The first Spanish inscription dates back to 1605 from Don Juan de Onate.
By the mid-1800s, the pioneer wagon trains bound for California stopped at El Morro, leaving their mark on the stones. The primary thing to do at El Morro is a loop walk of the bluff, where you can see all the inscriptions.
This monument even has a campground and ranger-led talks.
6 thoughts on “Route 66: 8 Incredible Sights You Can’t Miss”
You missed the Wigwams in Holbrook,Az. And Meteor Crater out of Winslow.
Very interesting, and well worth the time and detours, to see some of older historic America.
ive been on every mile of old route 66 as my family moved to california from northern indiana well before I55 on I40 were started
I traveled Route 66 every summer of my life from age 12 (1949) with my Mom, Viola, and brother Tom Roberts and our dog Bootsie. We slept in inexpensive motels and an old hotel in Albuquerque, price $10 per night! What a great learning experience for us all!! We had a great fun 3 month trip, stayed in Los Cruses at the bottom of New Mexico, drove up to Santa Fe and stayed in Adobe huts. We called my Dad everynight to tell him where we landed.
We went to Indian festivals and had some very interesting experiences. One day we visited a Pueblo reservation, many Indians lived there. My Mom pointed her little Brownie Hawkeye at the old Indian chief to take his picture and he started chasing us, yelling at all the other Indians to chase us. We RAN for our 1949 Pontiac!! jumped in and took off. We found out he thought the camera would steal his soul! He was probably born in the 1890’s!
We drove over that bridge in our 1949 Pontiac, in 1949! We drove Route 66 every summer for 4 years. What fabulous memories.
My mom, grandma, sister and I traveled route 66 from Chicago to Monrovia, CA in 1943 when my dad was in the Army, stationed at Santa Anita race track in Pasadena, at that time an Army supply depot. My fondest memories of that trip are of lunches in little Route 66 cafes, where I would always eat a hamburger, along with a chocolate milk shake. Great memories still (at 87).