Route 66
Albuquerque’s stretch of the famed highway, Route 66, is not just about nostalgia; it tells a story of resilience and reinvention. Completed in the mid-1800s before the onslaught of the Civil War, Route 66 is generally considered the first federal highway in the Southwestern United States. Over the years, Albuquerque has witnessed the highway’s evolution, from its bustling prime in the mid-1900s, when droves of families traveled westward seeking opportunity, to its Beat era spirit and notoriety before its decline in the late 20th century after the construction of I-40 in the late 1950’s.
Route 66 cuts right through the heart of Albuquerque, along the path of the current Central Avenue. You can still find diners and motor inns that served motorists on Route 66 back when people driving cross country followed the old road. From antique neon signs still blinking and classic Art Deco motels, to unique businesses that still serve customers along the route of the old highway, even the most jaded traveler may be surprised by the oddities, desert mirages, and unique kitschy charm to be found on old Route 66.
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