07/09/2026
Every Mural tells a story……
Downtown Tucumcari is more than colorful walls it’s a living gallery celebrating the people, places and history that makes our community special.
Created by Doug Quaralls, with assistance from Sharon Quaralls and Tom Windham, these two murals are filled with local points and hidden details waiting to be discovered. Doug and Sharon were instrumental in helping to establish Tucumcari as a City of Murals, creating dozens of murals that have become beloved landmarks throughout the community.
The Cowboy Mural
The cowboy is modeled after the building’s owner CJ Wiegel son, Nickolaus, riding his horse, Poco. In the background sits Liberty Mesa which is northwest of Tucumcari and a church inspired by the historic Gallegos Church in Harding County.
Hidden throughout the mural are a:
Rattlesnake
Mountain Lion
Tarantula
Antelope
Deer
Quail
Turkey
Roadrunner
Bull
The Conchas Lake Mural
This mural captures a treasured piece of local history, the houseboat originally owned by Tucumcari’s own Dr. T.B. & Mrs. Hoover in 1949 and an additional hometown connection is that Dr. & Mrs. Hoover are Yetta Bidegains Stepfather and Mother. The boat was also owned by the Elliot Family of former downtown business Blitz Jewelers.
The houseboat features the building owners’ family: CJ Wiegel, wife Audrey, son Patrick and daughter Madeline, while the catamaran shows his son Nickolaus enjoying another beautiful day on the water.
Next time you are strolling through downtown, don’t just admire the artwork look closer. Every mural has a story; most have hidden details that pay tribute to people and places. This is what truly makes Tucumcari one of a kind.
