A few years later, plans for the Mother Road began, and according to local history buffs, the town prepared itself for some of the route’s earliest alignments by building up its downtown accordingly. Tucumcari has a unique and fascinating history filled with tales of Native American settlements, notorious train robberies, and rowdy railroad construction workers so prone to pulling pistols on each other that the area was nicknamed “Six Shooter Siding” before getting its current name in 1901.
Tucumcari is an iconic Route 66 town-full of retro signage, abandoned motels, and classic diners-that's actively fighting to make a comeback.
