Located in eastern New Mexico along historic Route 66, not far from the Texas panhandle, is a popular Travel Center. You'll see billboards advertising it for miles before arriving here, most highlighting its free Car Museum.
We needed gas and a break from our roadtrip, so we decided to stop at Russell's and take a look around. It seems to be in the middle of nowhere but is a nice modern place with many gas pumps, spacious parking and lots of services for cars, trucks and RVs.
As with many Travel Centers, Russell's has groceries and snacks, a variety of souvenir items, and a diner. It even has a chapel.
The highlight of the Center, and well worth the stop, is a chance to explore an interesting and free museum. It contains about two dozen vintage and collectible vehicles, and a large selection of photos and memorabilia from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
The following photos were taken while visiting the museum:
Before you enter the museum, you get to see a few motorcycles, a 1927 Ford Model T, and Coca-cola and service center memorabilia....
The main museum is a large room crammed with things guys like me like to see. For example, a hot pink 1957 Ford Thunderbird...
1958 Chevy Impala...
1955 Chevy Corvette....
1959 Chevy Corvette....
1955 Mercury Montclair....
1953 Chevy BelAir....
1956 Mercury Montclair...
1954 Chevy BelAir....
1972 VW Karmann Ghia....
1964 Ford Mustang....
And a variety of more recent, limited edition Ford Mustangs and a Shelby Cobra...
There was a lot of interesting memorabilia, like Coke machines and bottles....
Marilyn Monroe items....
Elvis Presley collectibles....
And gasoline station items and photographs....
Russell's offers far more than your usual roadside gas and pit stop. If you enjoy old cars and collectible items from long ago, consider making it a planned stop.
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