Tucumcari was established in 1901 on historic Route 66 as a tent city for the railroad. It is now the seat of Quay County in northeastern New Mexico. Legend has it that the name comes from the ill-fated romance of Tocom, Apache warrior and Kari, daughter of an Apache chief.
Mesa Technical College offers specialized one-of-a-kind degrees in Bronze Foundry Work and Farrier Science as well as the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and Natural Science Laboratories.
Address: Mesa Technical College, 911 South 10th Street, Tucumcari, NM 88401-3352, United States
Phone: 1 (505) 461-4413, Fax: 1 (505) 461-7842
Mesalands Community College's Dinosaur Museum features items found during field research by Mesalands Community College's natural sciences classes. The Exhibit Hall at the Dinosaur Museum houses replicated and original fossils from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
Another notable display is the world's largest collection of bronze skeletons, fossils, and replicas of prehistoric creatures.
Hours:
March 1 to September 3: 10am-6pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
September 4 to February 28: 12pm-5pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Sun, Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Tucumcari Historical Research Institute and Museum has a collection of artifacts from prehistoric times to the 20th century. Highlights include the 1903 schoolhouse with three floors of memorabilia, and the Historic Route 66 exhibit.
Hours:
9am-3pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.