Gallup Cultural Center, New Mexico

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Gallup, New Mexico · Updated October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Depot museumOpen Monday to Friday, 10 am to 3 pm

The Gallup Cultural Center, also known as the George Galanis Multicultural Center, turned the city's 1918 Santa Fe Railway depot into a public square for art, Native American culture and Gallup history, while trains still stop outside.

  • Santa Fe depot built in 1918
  • Cultural center since 1996
  • Code Talker and Route 66 exhibits
  • Fred Harvey exhibit
  • Still an Amtrak stop

Gallup Cultural Center at a glance

Hours
Monday to Friday 10 am to 3 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday
Admission
Not posted online; call (505) 728-8048
Seasonal events
Route 66 centennial celebration, Master's student art show
Plan for
About 1 hour
Best for
Route 66 travelers and families interested in Southwest history
Best ages
Ages 6 and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Gallup Cultural Center? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Gallup.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A railroad headquarters turned public square

The depot is a two-story, stucco-clad building put up in 1918 as an area headquarters for the Santa Fe Railway, which had succeeded the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad through Gallup. In 1996, after the building was renovated, the City of Gallup asked the Southwest Indian Foundation to take it on and make it a cultural center for the whole community.

The foundation shaped it like a public square, a place where residents, school children and visitors gather. Also called the George Galanis Multicultural Center, it presents programs and art that celebrate the Native American cultures neighboring Gallup and the city's own history, and it supports young artists through a student art show and an art scholarship.

Exhibits inside the old depot

Inside you will find the Storyteller Art Museum along with exhibits on the Navajo Code Talkers, Route 66 and Fred Harvey, whose company ran restaurants and hotels along the Santa Fe. Because the building is still a working station, Amtrak passengers wait at the east end and board through gates the conductors open when trains arrive.

Don’t miss

  1. The Fred Harvey exhibitA link between the depot and the hospitality company that fed and housed Santa Fe Railway travelers.
  2. The Route 66 exhibitGallup sits on the Mother Road, and the center has been celebrating the highway's 100th birthday.
  3. The Code Talker exhibitHonors the Navajo Code Talkers and their place in the region's history.

Art, stories and a working platform

Older kids who like art and stories will get the most from the galleries, and train fans can watch the platform in case an Amtrak train is due. No dedicated children's programs are posted, so ask when you call (505) 728-8048.

Plan your visit: tips for Gallup Cultural Center

  • The center is closed on weekends; plan a weekday visit.
  • Amtrak riders wait at the east end of the building; tickets are sold online, not at the depot.
  • The address is 201 E. Highway 66, on Route 66 in Gallup.

The Southwest Indian Foundation and its partners

The Southwest Indian Foundation runs the center, with sponsorship from the Twiford Foundation. Visitors can support it by donating to its art scholarship, attending its art shows and events, and signing up through the center's get involved form.

Rail stops east along I-40

The nearest rail sites on this site are in the Albuquerque area: the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society about 121 miles east and the WHEELS Museum about 122 miles away. The Belen Harvey House Museum, another Fred Harvey stop, is about 126 miles. Browse every New Mexico train museum, or read our tips on Amtrak routes with kids.

Every train museum in New Mexico

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

At Gallup, Amtrak passengers wait at the east end of the old depot until the conductors open the gates. I always think about that moment of climbing aboard. In our book, the train steps are far too tall for Rally's short corgi legs, so Dad gives him a gentle boost. My mom pictured that scene first, and I'm so glad she did. Her story is on our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Gallup Cultural Center?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Gallup Cultural Center and Santa Fe Depot: 20 questions

What is the Gallup Cultural Center?

The Gallup Cultural Center is a community arts and history center in Gallup's historic Santa Fe Railway depot. Created in 1996 by the Southwest Indian Foundation, it offers programs and art celebrating the Native American cultures that neighbor Gallup, plus exhibits on Gallup's history, Route 66 and Fred Harvey.

Where is the Gallup Cultural Center?

The center is at 201 E. Highway 66, Gallup, New Mexico 87301, in the historic Santa Fe Depot right on Route 66. Visitors can stop in during normal business hours. Call (505) 728-8048 if you need directions or want to confirm it is open.

What are the Gallup Cultural Center hours?

As of October 2026, the Gallup Cultural Center is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 3 pm and is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Hours can change for holidays and events, so call (505) 728-8048 before a special trip.

How much does the Gallup Cultural Center cost?

An admission price is not posted online. Call (505) 728-8048 or email tfraizer@southwestindian.com to ask about current admission and any charges for groups or special events before you visit. Donations to the center's art scholarship are also welcome.

Is the Gallup Cultural Center the same as the George Galanis Multicultural Center?

Yes. The center in the historic Santa Fe Depot is also known as the George Galanis Multicultural Center. Both names refer to the arts and culture space the Southwest Indian Foundation created at the depot in 1996, with its Storyteller Art Museum and history exhibits.

When was the Gallup Santa Fe Depot built?

The depot was built in 1918. It is a two-story, stucco-clad building that served as an area headquarters for the Santa Fe Railway, which succeeded the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad through Gallup. It was renovated before becoming the cultural center in 1996.

Does Amtrak stop at the Gallup Cultural Center?

Yes, the historic depot still serves Amtrak passengers. Guests wait at the east end of the building, and the conductors open the gates to the trains when they arrive. Tickets are sold online rather than at the depot, so buy yours before you arrive.

Can I buy Amtrak tickets at the Gallup depot?

No. The center says Amtrak ticket sales are online. Buy your ticket ahead of time, then wait at the east end of the building on your travel day, where the conductors will open the gates to the platform when the train pulls in.

What exhibits are at the Gallup Cultural Center?

The center houses the Storyteller Art Museum and exhibits on the Navajo Code Talkers, Route 66 and Fred Harvey, whose company served Santa Fe Railway travelers. Together they offer a look at the history of the Southwest and the many cultures around Gallup.

Is there a Fred Harvey exhibit in Gallup?

Yes. The Gallup Cultural Center has a Fred Harvey exhibit inside the historic Santa Fe Depot. Fred Harvey's company ran restaurants and hotels along the Santa Fe Railway, so the depot is a fitting home for the story.

Does the Gallup Cultural Center celebrate Route 66?

Yes. Gallup sits on Route 66, and the center has a Route 66 exhibit and has been celebrating the highway's 100th birthday. Check gallupculturalcenter.org for centennial events and details, since dates are announced on the site.

Who runs the Gallup Cultural Center?

The Southwest Indian Foundation runs the center. In 1996 the City of Gallup asked the foundation to take possession of the newly renovated depot and turn it into a cultural center for the community. The Twiford Foundation is also listed as a sponsor.

Is the Gallup Cultural Center good for kids?

Kids who enjoy art, stories and trains can find plenty to see, from the Storyteller Art Museum to the chance of an Amtrak train at the platform. No dedicated children's programs are posted, so call (505) 728-8048 to ask about school visits or family activities.

How long should I spend at the Gallup Cultural Center?

About an hour covers the exhibits at a comfortable pace. Allow more if you want to linger in the Storyteller Art Museum or wait for a train. Since the center closes at 3 pm on weekdays, plan to arrive by early afternoon.

Is there parking at the Gallup Cultural Center?

Parking details are not posted online. The center is on Highway 66 in downtown Gallup at the depot. Call (505) 728-8048 to ask where to park, particularly if you are arriving for an Amtrak train or a busy event.

Is the Gallup Cultural Center wheelchair accessible?

Accessibility information is not posted online. Call (505) 728-8048 before you go to ask about entrances, the galleries and access to the Amtrak platform, so staff can help plan your visit to the 1918 building.

Does the Gallup Cultural Center host art shows?

Yes. The center hosts art events, including a master's student art show, and it raises money for an art scholarship to support young artists. Watch the events page at gallupculturalcenter.org for current shows and dates.

How can I support the Gallup Cultural Center?

You can donate to the center's art scholarship, attend its exhibits and events, and fill out the get involved form on its website to volunteer or stay in touch. Call (505) 728-8048 or email tfraizer@southwestindian.com to ask about other ways to help.

Is the Gallup Cultural Center open on weekends?

No. As of October 2026, the center is closed on Saturday and Sunday and open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 3 pm. Weekend Amtrak passengers can still use the platform at the east end of the building, but the exhibits will be closed.

What train museums are near Gallup, New Mexico?

The closest on this site are in the Albuquerque area: the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society about 121 miles east and the WHEELS Museum about 122 miles. The Belen Harvey House Museum is about 126 miles, and the Durango & Silverton is about 129 miles north.

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