Safest, Shortest and Best Route – The Santa Fe Old Trails – Grand Canyon Route – via Gallup, New Mexico

Motoring in the Southwest during the mid-1920s.

This charming localized production was copyrighted in 1925 by J.T. Blatsios and published about three years later “for the benefit of tourists” by the White Cafe of Gallup, New Mexico. The town of about 4,000 is situated in the center of the image, which shows stretches of road between Los Angeles and Kansas City. Small towns, major landmarks, and interesting side trips are labeled in a quaint, handmade style. Accompanying elevation charts show the sharp changes in height along the way, while a mileage diagram (upper right) offers a somewhat confusing reference for distances between different cities.

Advertisements along the bottom promote local businesses and events, including the Gallup America Coal Company, Navajo rugs, and the 1928 Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. A note in the upper right mentions that the No. 66 Gallup Rotary Club meets at the White Cafe every noon – presumably this was an early booster organization for the newly established (1926) Route 66.