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Blue Swallow Motel Tucumcari, New Mexico
1998
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Earlier this year I was fortunate to spend some time exploring the Texas Panhandle visiting all of the small towns on old Route 66. One of the highlights of the trip was a day spent in Tucumcari, NM and especially my conversation with Gene Shelton, new owner of the Blue Swallow. Graciously, he allowed me to photograph at will which resulted in many rolls of both color and b&w film. He purchased the property from long time Rt. 66 “icon” Lillian Redman, and is in the process of restoring the motel. The publication A Guide Book to Highway 66 by Jack Rittenhouse (A facsimile of the 1946 edition was published by The University of New Mexico Press in 1989) states, “Before the railroad, Tucumcari was a small village where early cowmen came for supplies. A recent vast irrigation project has brought steady growth in population of the region, which now raises considerable grain. The Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo is held here each year – usually in mid-August. Tucumcari is quite a tourist center.” Signs along the old road boasted of the many motel rooms available - “Tucumcari Tonight – 2000 Motel Rooms.” Main street was long and wide being an important destination! The are many opportunities now to photograph the old existing motels and their signs. Unfortunately, many of these motels are in a state of considerable disrepair. Tucumcari would be a wonderful place to spend some time with a large format camera photographing in the wonderful southwestern light and enjoying the history of it all.
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Photographic Documentation of America’s Vanishing Roadside Culture
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Copyright 2001 The American Highway Project, Inc.
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