One gem on Route 66 sits in a truck stop on I-40 in Glenrio, NM. It is Russell’s Travel Center Museum. The museum is full of classic cars, classic motorcycles, classic gas station signs, fuel pumps, and a ton of nostalgia. Or should I say, was full of all those amazing things. Unfortunately, the museum is now closed and empty.
One of the not-so-great things about social media is running across something that makes you sad during your doomscrolling. That’s exactly what happened to me. I was scrolling, and I saw a car on an auction site, then another, and I realized they were cars from Russell’s Travel Center Museum.
What Happened to Russell’s Travel Center?
Now the museum is closed, and the days of Russell’s Travel Center are gone. According to Truckers News, TravelCenters of America (TA) purchased the truck stop at 1583 Frontage Rd 4132 in 2023.
Route 66 News reported that as part of the TA sale, the Russell’s Travel Center name would remain for three years. Now that the three years are up, the travel center has been officially rebranded as TA, and the contents of the free museum were removed in July 2026.
The Museum Was Free, but the Donation Box Raised $520,000
Even though the museum was free, it did have a donation box. Over 15 years, $520,000 was donated to food banks in Amarillo and Tucumcari.
Inside the Assiter Auction: 432 Lots From Russell’s
Assiter Auctioneers is holding an online auction with 432 lots from Russell’s. The auction ends on October 10, 2026.
When You Can Preview the Auction in Canyon
The auction preview will be Thursday, October 8, and Friday, October 9, from 9 am to 5 pm. Vehicles may be previewed at the Assiter Auction Facility at 16650 I-27 in Canyon. The other items may be previewed at the museum inside the truck stop.
Assiter Auction – Russell Travel Center Museum
What’s in the Auction: Classic Cars, Gas Pumps and Vintage Signs
The museum contained many historical and collector items. There were gas station signs like Texaco and Gulf, and the classic pumps that once filled those cars. Inside, there were vintage traffic lights, street signs, movie and music memorabilia, and of course, the classic cars.
What the Cars Are Expected to Sell For
The cars at the start of the auction have very low bids. However, by the time the auction closes, these beauties from yesteryear will likely go for tens of thousands of dollars.
A Stop Our Family Made for Years
I’m sad. It was a traditional stop when my family and I traveled into New Mexico. When my husband and I first started dating, we got in the car, and I started driving. I didn’t tell him where we were going; I just went west on I-40. It freaked him out a little bit, not knowing where I was taking him. I knew he liked classic cars, and it was the perfect surprise date destination. I took him to the museum, and then we had breakfast at the diner…