Ah, the delight in finding little surprises on a road trip.
When we flew out of Okinawa and Tokyo, Mr.Sunshine was on full blast, and the first states we flew in and visited on the East Seaboard were still warm. However, on our way heading out West to California from family gathering and other shenanigans on the Eastern side of the continent, we were accompanied with ice storm. It was slightly chilly in Tennessee and drenched in Arkansas,but the nightmare of silver thaw started on our drive through Oklahoma. It was my first time to witness an ice storm and I thought it was pretty. It is dangerous, I know, and my husband has been consistently telling me that as he drove. But the ice-cased twigs remind me of the winter scene in Narnia where the Edmund met the White Witch. Hmm, Turkish Delight!
As we drove through Interstate 40 on New Mexico, we stopped at Russell’s Travel Center for some gas, coffee and food supplies. What we just came across is no ordinary gas station. It is a decent size grocery store with an authentic Route 66 Diner, showers and even a chapel. It also has its own car museum housing 23 classic cars, a memorabilia museum of Coca Cola collectibles, and some antique collections, with no entry free!
Car Museum of classic cars inside Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.A 1955 Corvette Roadster as showcased in a Car Museum of classic cars inside Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.A 1927 Ford Model T as showcased in a Car Museum of classic cars inside Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.Car Museum of classic cars inside Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.A wagon inside the car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.James Dean inside a car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.A ghost town map of New Mexico inside a car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.Memorabilia of Coca Cola collectibles inside the car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.Memorabilia of Coca Cola collectibles inside the car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.A Coca-Cola Barbie as part of the memorabilia of Coca Cola collectibles inside the car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.An antique cash register as part of the antique machine collections inside the car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.Would you like to measure your sex appeal on this antique love tester/love meter inside the car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico?Marilyn Monroe inside the car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.Inside the car museum at Russell’s Travel Center off Interstate 40 on New Mexico.
“Wow, that was a lovely surprise!”, I told my husband as I was trying to buckle up to continue our adventure.
It is! Considering it is just off Interstate 40 in New Mexico. The staff were very friendly too. They even let us inside their “mini office” as shown in the last photo above :)
i am uniquely and wonderfully made. 
What an interesting place. I love memorabilia like this!
Thank you. I always appreciate things and places like this. I can only imagine the effort these people has put into this museum turn into a reality.
Wow, what a quirky, fun find! I’ll have to visit sometime.
If you are around the area, make sure to drop by! It is actually a decent size center and there is no entry fee :)
Looks like a very cool place!
It is! Considering it is just off Interstate 40 in New Mexico. The staff were very friendly too. They even let us inside their “mini office” as shown in the last photo above :)
Nice pics clicked ….. at Museum….
Thank you! :)
This is some awesome place. What an unexpected find!
Thank you and thank you for dropping by :)