Classical Gas Museum, Embudo, New Mexico
If you wish you had lived in the pre-cellphone, pre-texting, pre-Interstate Highway era, where the two-lane road ruled and at every gas stop you didn’t encounter the same generic fast food restaurants, then a stop at the Classical Gas Museum in Embudo might be what you need.
A bit of nostalgia in our technological, limited access highway world.
Created by retired Los Alamos Laboratory scientist Johnnie Meier, the museum is a monument to the vintage gas station. But meandering through the twenty-five or so years that Meier has been building and adding to this iconic temple to the Rt. 66 mistique, one finds an amazing array of advertising signs, gas pumps, old-time gas station thermometers, kitschy oil cans, and enough neon signs to light up the eyes of any electric co-op board member.
Sitting in front of a Valentine Co. metal diner, admittedly one of Meier’s favorites in his growing collection, he’s asked if there is an admission charge to the museum.
“I'm a terrible businessman.” He says laughing. “yhere's no admission charge. However, lots of people have wanted to donate and so I have a donation jar for the local animal shelter. I collect donations and every Christmas send it to the animal shelter.”
He pauses for a moment and then adds, “I am retired so my bills are paid every month. I don't have much aspiration beyond that. (laughs) However, I rent stuff to the movies and some of this stuff is for sale.”
Meier says that he’s had visitors from all over the world, and it’s easy to understand why. As you are driving through Embudo, and look to the south of the road, you are confronted by an astonishing collection of old gas pumps, a wooden Indian, an old pickup truck, and advertising signs, which seem to draw you into the driveway as if by magic.
“I've met people from just about every country you could name. Abu Dabi to South Africa, Czechoslovakia, Russia, New Califonia, Iceland, you name it.” Meier says in a somewhat wondering voice. “I'm amazed to how many people have a connection to an old gas station. Or a gasoline brand. It seems like I hear everyday someone will stop and say, ‘oh year, my dad used to drive a truck for those guys.’ ‘I worked one summer at a gas station.’ ‘That was my hangout as a kid.’ That's the surprising thing, how many people have a connection to a gasoline company.”
What’s the appeal to Meier and why does he think the museum has such a magical draw to passersby?
“I think the rewards are on many levels.” He explains. “First of all I'm presenting history, presenting part of our culture, and I'm presenting what I consider the art. A lot of these gas pumps have very sculptural qualities. They are truly pieces of art. It represents part of our culture. It's what opened up America, the availability of cheap gas every five miles down the road. This is what made America grow into the economy we have. That kind of thing: the culture, the history, the art of it. And then again, people just get a kick out of it. People laugh and smile and have a good time. Many people tell me it's been their favorite thing they've been to in New Mexico.”
To accentuate the point that the museum is the high point of many visitors’ southwest trip, Meier recalls an incident that happened not too long ago.
“One time I was here and a couple had just come from the Grand Canyon and they were taking pictures here and they ran out of memory on the camera and they started deleting pictures of the Grand Canyon to take pictures here.”
Anyone can have photos of the Grand Canyon, this story seems to say, but to have photos of the Classical Gas Museum, ah, that’s something special, indeed.
Meier finishes off with an anecdote.
“Charles Kuralt was a famous travel correspondent in the day, and he had a statement that really addressed that, he once said that with the new American interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel coast to coast and not see a damn thing. And it's true. You've got to get on the two-lane roads.”
And that’s where the Classical Gas Museum is located, on a two-lane road that passes through the town of Embudo.
Meier says that if the gates open, you’re welcome to stop and explore.
Essentials
What: Classical Gas Museum
Where: Embudo, NM
Info: 505.852.2995
A bit of nostalgia in our technological, limited access highway world.
Created by retired Los Alamos Laboratory scientist Johnnie Meier, the museum is a monument to the vintage gas station. But meandering through the twenty-five or so years that Meier has been building and adding to this iconic temple to the Rt. 66 mistique, one finds an amazing array of advertising signs, gas pumps, old-time gas station thermometers, kitschy oil cans, and enough neon signs to light up the eyes of any electric co-op board member.
Sitting in front of a Valentine Co. metal diner, admittedly one of Meier’s favorites in his growing collection, he’s asked if there is an admission charge to the museum.
“I'm a terrible businessman.” He says laughing. “yhere's no admission charge. However, lots of people have wanted to donate and so I have a donation jar for the local animal shelter. I collect donations and every Christmas send it to the animal shelter.”
He pauses for a moment and then adds, “I am retired so my bills are paid every month. I don't have much aspiration beyond that. (laughs) However, I rent stuff to the movies and some of this stuff is for sale.”
Meier says that he’s had visitors from all over the world, and it’s easy to understand why. As you are driving through Embudo, and look to the south of the road, you are confronted by an astonishing collection of old gas pumps, a wooden Indian, an old pickup truck, and advertising signs, which seem to draw you into the driveway as if by magic.
“I've met people from just about every country you could name. Abu Dabi to South Africa, Czechoslovakia, Russia, New Califonia, Iceland, you name it.” Meier says in a somewhat wondering voice. “I'm amazed to how many people have a connection to an old gas station. Or a gasoline brand. It seems like I hear everyday someone will stop and say, ‘oh year, my dad used to drive a truck for those guys.’ ‘I worked one summer at a gas station.’ ‘That was my hangout as a kid.’ That's the surprising thing, how many people have a connection to a gasoline company.”
What’s the appeal to Meier and why does he think the museum has such a magical draw to passersby?
“I think the rewards are on many levels.” He explains. “First of all I'm presenting history, presenting part of our culture, and I'm presenting what I consider the art. A lot of these gas pumps have very sculptural qualities. They are truly pieces of art. It represents part of our culture. It's what opened up America, the availability of cheap gas every five miles down the road. This is what made America grow into the economy we have. That kind of thing: the culture, the history, the art of it. And then again, people just get a kick out of it. People laugh and smile and have a good time. Many people tell me it's been their favorite thing they've been to in New Mexico.”
To accentuate the point that the museum is the high point of many visitors’ southwest trip, Meier recalls an incident that happened not too long ago.
“One time I was here and a couple had just come from the Grand Canyon and they were taking pictures here and they ran out of memory on the camera and they started deleting pictures of the Grand Canyon to take pictures here.”
Anyone can have photos of the Grand Canyon, this story seems to say, but to have photos of the Classical Gas Museum, ah, that’s something special, indeed.
Meier finishes off with an anecdote.
“Charles Kuralt was a famous travel correspondent in the day, and he had a statement that really addressed that, he once said that with the new American interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel coast to coast and not see a damn thing. And it's true. You've got to get on the two-lane roads.”
And that’s where the Classical Gas Museum is located, on a two-lane road that passes through the town of Embudo.
Meier says that if the gates open, you’re welcome to stop and explore.
Essentials
What: Classical Gas Museum
Where: Embudo, NM
Info: 505.852.2995
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or use the contact form on the About page