Another town that preserves a portion of Route 66, Grants lies near one of the largest deposits of uranium in the world, 75 mi/120 km west of Albuquerque. Its discovery in 1950 made uranium extraction the main business in Grants. The New Mexico Museum of Mining includes a replica of a uranium mine and other exhibits on the industry.
Just south of town is El Malpais National Monument and National Conservation Area, a vast site of prehistoric volcanic activity—lava beds, tubes and spatter cones. Most prominent among the natural features are the Ice Cave (with its never-melting frozen formations), inactive Bandera Volcano and La Ventana, a large natural arch. There are also some Ancestral Puebloan ruins within the conservation area.
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