One of the least-known, and most delightful Harvey outposts is the Harvey House Museum in the old Santa Fe train depot in tiny Belen, NM. While there was never a huge Harvey operation here, the town and its Harvey heritage has become disproportionately significant because the museum here is so ambitious and charming–the folks in Belen clearly adore their Freddist roots–and because the city closest to Belen with a much deeper Harvey history, Albuquerque, did not see fit to preserve its Santa Fe depot building and the grand old Alvarado Hotel (home of the original Harvey Indian Building and native art collection). Maurine McMillan and her Belen crew do an amazing job with their museum and their Harvey proselytizing across the west (we first met them at a Harvey Girl reunion in San Diego).

They showed us a wonderful time. And they also made a really cool cake (see below.)

We arrived, sadly, late for the open house at the museum, because as easterners we had no idea that when you drive from Arizona into New Mexico during daylight savings time, you lose an hour. They have a terrific collection at the museum and a wide variety of Harvey and Santa Fe books–and among their new exhibits is a wonderful bronze sculpture by Curtis Fort. Then we had a reception at the gorgeous new public library–part of an impressive downtown refurbishment which has also been fueled by the new regional rail service between Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Belen.

We had cookies and cupcakes made from recipes from the book, and a great cross-section of guests from far and wide for the lecture and signing–including “Friends of Fred” Brenda Thowe, Harvey Girl maven from BNSF in Fort Worth (who brought as a gift a bottled water called, simply, Fred) and Kimberlee Reid, who came all the way from the National Archive in Kansas City in a convertible (actually, I suspect she rented it in Albuquerque.) After the talk, Brenda had to rush back for BNSF business, but Kimberlee hung around to grab dinner–which is no easy feat in Belen after 9 pm. After several attempts to find open places in town–and a lot of U-turns for which our GPS lady browbeat us–we ended up driving six miles to Los Lunas, where at least the Chili’s was open for beers and fajitas. And then we went back to spend the night at a really charming B&B Inn, La Mirada.

Our Belen adventure complete, we’re off to Santa Fe!

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