66 in Chrome and Clay

A newer addition to the Mother Road is the Route 66 Monument, known as “Roadside Attraction,” located in historic Tucumcari, New Mexico. Commissioned by the New Mexico Arts Commission and the New Mexico Highway Department, the monument was designed by artist Thomas Coffin and completed in 1997.

The sculpture features a larger-than-life chrome tail fin from a retro car, topped with bold “66” numerals. Pointing westward, the sleek, retro-futuristic design stands in contrast with the monument’s base which is in a traditional adobe style. What first appear to be ancient pictographs along the bottom are, on closer inspection, stylized depictions of tires and a winding road—symbolizing Route 66 itself.

This striking monument blends the past with forward-looking optimism, perfectly capturing the spirit of the Dust Bowl Highway. Visit it in person at 1500 W. Route 66 Boulevard, just outside the Tucumcari Convention Center.