Tucumcari Mountain has long been a landmark for travelers along the Canadian River. Pathfinder Pedro Vial mentioned it in 1793 while opening a trail between Santa Fe and St. Louis. In order to find the best route from Arkansas to California, Capt. Randolph B. Marcy led an expedition past here in 1849. The town of Tucumcari was founded in 1901 and takes its name from the mountain, which signaled people traveling Route 66 and Interstate 40 that rest was nearby.
