The Indian Capital of the World

As previously mentioned, the only city we visited last weekend that is actually mentioned in the song Route 66 was the city of Gallup, N.M. 

Gallup (Navajo: Naʼnízhoozhí) is is the county seat of McKinley County and the most populous city between Flagstaff, Ariz., and Albuquerque, N.M.

Gallup was founded in 1881 as a railhead for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. The city was named after David Gallup, a paymaster for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. 

During World War II, the city fought successfully to prevent 800 Japanese American residents from being placed in wartime internment.

Gallup is sometimes called the "Indian Capital of the World", for its location in the heart of Native American lands, and the presence of Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and other tribes. Gallup's nickname references the huge impact of the Native American cultures found in and around Gallup. 

One of Gallup's biggest events is the Red Rock Balloon Rally, which is the second largest balloon festival in the world and has been held annually in Gallup since 1981. The three-day event features a Friday lift off from both the Red Rock Park and Fox Run Golf Course.

The largest hot air balloon festival in the world is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta which takes place in Albuquerque, N.M. during early October. The balloon fiesta is a nine-day event, and has around 750 balloons.

Sadly, we did not see Saige while in New Mexico.