The Belen Harvey House Museum in New Mexico offers a glimpse into the state’s rich rail travel history. Before the construction of Route 66, Americans traveled across the country by train, and the Harvey House chain provided high-quality meals to passengers during their journeys.

History of the Harvey House

In the 1870s, English immigrant Fred Harvey recognized the need for better dining options for train passengers. He partnered with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to create the Harvey House chain, which included numerous restaurants along the rail stops. The restaurants were divided into formal dining rooms for travelers and lunch counters for railroad workers.

The Harvey Girls, a group of well-trained waitresses, played a crucial role in ensuring that passengers had a pleasant dining experience within the limited time available. The Belen Harvey House, originally known as the Belen Eating House, was one of the many locations that provided this service to travelers.

Preservation and Restoration

The Belen Harvey House closed in 1939 due to the decline of railroad travel, but it has since been restored and now operates as a museum and café. The museum features tours of the dining areas and staff housing, showcasing artifacts from the house and other Harvey locations across the country.

The Whistlestop Cafe, located within the museum, offers visitors a chance to experience the same hospitality that the Harvey House was known for. The café serves traditional dishes, and the proceeds from the café help support the museum’s operations and exhibits.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.