Part of Our Route 66 Everytown Collection – Dilia Edition
Feel the quiet, spiritual pull of New Mexico's Pecos River valley in this ultra-soft unisex jersey tee, expertly crafted from 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton. Featuring the heartfelt slogan "Home of the Sacred Heart Church," this striking design salutes Dilia, New Mexico: a tiny farming village whose steadfast stone sanctuary still watches over travelers on the Mother Road.
Perfect for road-trip romantics, adobe-landscape photographers and collectors of our exclusive Route 66 Everytown Collection, allowing you to wear a whisper of faith and frontier history wherever you roam.
Shop now at Heart of The Mother Road and enjoy FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $25.
About Dilia, New Mexico: A Sanctuary on the Pecos River
Nestled along the original 1926–1937 alignment of Historic Route 66, Dilia stands as a serene reminder of how faith and endurance shaped the communities of the Southwest. Founded in the late 19th century as a small Spanish farming village nourished by the Pecos River, Dilia’s story is one of quiet perseverance.
Its heart and soul, and most enduring landmark is the Sacred Heart Catholic Church (completed in 1900). It is a beautiful sandstone and adobe chapel whose modest bell tower still rings out across the fertile fields and windswept mesas.
Route 66 and the Rhythm of Small-Town Life
When the first stretch of Route 66 was established through this part of New Mexico in 1926, Dilia found itself on the Mother Road’s early path. Motorists traveling between Santa Rosa and Las Vegas often stopped to fuel up, enjoy homemade tamales and admire the rugged mesa skyline framed perfectly by the chapel’s twin wooden doors.
Though the 1937 Santa Rosa Cutoff later rerouted the highway, bypassing Dilia, the town’s spirit remained untouched, with its pace of life continuing to mirror the slow, steady flow of the Pecos River.
Dilia Today: A Quiet Testament to the Past
Today, Dilia endures as a peaceful sanctuary. Visitors who stop along the old two-lane alignment can still walk the path to the church, step inside the cool stone interior, and breathe in the scent of cedar candles burning for safe passage, just as travelers did nearly a century ago.
Slip on your Dilia tee as a tribute to this tranquil haven on the Mother Road: a place where faith, frontier history, and the timeless rhythm of the Pecos River continue to flow together in quiet harmony.
Product Features:
- 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton for premium softness
- Side seams for added structure and durability
- Tear-away label for comfort
- Classic crew neckline with a flattering unisex fit - true-to-size for all day comfort (see size chart for details)
- Fulfilled in the USA
Care Instructions:
- Machine wash: cold (max 90°F / 30°C)
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Non-chlorine bleach as needed
- Iron or steam: medium heat
- Do not dry clean
