Tucumcari will host video kiosks about Route 66 history

The Tucumcari Convention Center will host a couple of video kiosks that will show DVDs about the Route 66 history of Tucumcari, N.M., and the surrounding area, according to the Quay County Sun.

The community development office and the Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce began working with a graphic design company Janice St. Marie in Santa Fe to make the kiosk system.

Yvette Fazekas, community development projects coordinator said the kiosks, along with a brochure, will highlight the attractions and sites along Route 66 from Cuervo to the state line.

“The DVD will feature local photos highlighting Route 66 past-to-present,” Fazekas said. “We are working with a local company for the photos.”

Powers said several of the photos have reminded him of Tucumcari when he was growing up. He said there are photos of several businesses which are no longer on Route 66.

“So far several pictures have been submitted. The problem is trying to narrow down the ones we want to use,” Powers said. “So many photos of places long forgotten. It makes you feel happy and a bit sad to see them again.”

Powers said one of the photos was of the Flying M Ranch Motel, which featured a neon sign with wings that flapped.

“It’s one of those sights you’ll never forget,” Powers said, “though now that business is no longer there. The only way people will know about it is if we show and remind them.”

The kiosk system will be paid for with a $52,000 grant awarded last year by the state’s Scenic Byways program.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.