Much of the World Wide Web is pressed into use as promotional advertising for one thing or another, Tucumcari being no
exception. There are a handful of web destinations (this one included) that provide more "accurate" information.
Starting from a drug store's "tourist trap" assortment of trinkets and an old school building, the local historical museum
gives an artifacts-based view of an area built to service railroads and eventually sliding into yet another traveler stop
on a "get through this territory as fast as you can" Interstate junction.
[<0;81;30M
The incredible history of Tucumcari's founding by a group of Jewish entreprenuers. Shalom!
This service directory is probably the most updated list of businesses in the area.
The rest of the Chamber website is very dated and has many broken links, so make phone inquiries before making use of any information.
The organization's job is, of course, to make Tucumcari look like a prosperous place - don't be fooled. The only sizable
industry in town is traveler services (fuel, food, sleep, emergency medicine, eZ-on/eZ-off the Interstate). Lots of
toilet-scrubbing needed, oh and marijuana sales.
This is the area emigration project, designed to get Tucumcari kids enough gumption and certification to leave
this place and find their fortunes, usually elsewhere. Take some classes, get your transcript, and then bug out.
The place might be a bit hayseed, even primitive, but it does the job.
When you live in a rural place, the Extension Service and their Agents are valuable sources of local information
especially if you are a farming or ranching family. Usually of limited value to anyone else.
This is the primary recipient of funds for historical and cultural efforts in the city,
mostly focused on the railroad station museum and environs. If something looks fresh and clean
in town, Mainstreet usually contributed. Look around and figure where the money goes.
Art City a few miles north of Town
I have driven to this outdoor art area and chosen not to pay the admission fee. The creator
is certainly good at promotion in the national and regional tourist press and touts himself
as "The Most Famous Artist". I don't know if it is really still a going concern, or just
another of a long list of failed money-making schemes that may or may not have scammed the
local government and economic development board for "free" money. Likely more typical "bilk
the desperately dying town" activities. The idea is to take all the silly enticements, tax breaks, and ignorant
"development" money you can get as quickly as possible, then "disappear" some midnight to the next
"dipstick" victim town. Ignore any potential lessons and do it over and over again until the kickbacks
get too small. Tucumcari lurches along mostly through the government project scraps from Santa Fe.
|
Liberty - Tucumcari's Long-dead Parental Settlement
This is all the products of Fred Reed, one of the best commentators around.
Sometimes, he acts like he has stopped writing, but then he pops up again
with something new!
Austrian Economics, Freedom, and Peace. Tucumcari, and lots of other
places could use some of these.
Ron Paul is one of the most successful Liberty political leaders over the years.
One of the premier sites for liberty-oriented current event coverage.
The long-lasting source of recorded interviews with Russ Roberts, academic classical liberal
and economist from the Austrian school. Most enlightening interchanges.
You can't keep a good man down.
|