The highspeed i40 freeway gives quick access to some of the best surviving stretches of the old road, and these are some of the most captivating parts of route 66 anywhere. Packed with affordable eateries, bike lanes, and latenight coffee shops, come here to get an espresso jolt or to feel old among 20somethings. Established in 1926, the legendary road stretched 2,448 miles from chicago, ill. Highway 66 us 66 or route 66, also known as the will rogers highway, the main street of america or the mother road, was one of the original highways in the u. These business owners who provided food, shelter, and services were taking a stand against racial segregation. Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 and many of its businesses closed their doors. In the historic center of santa fe, all buildings are protected and no new. Land of extremes and contrasts, capped by high mountains and home to extensive desert plateaus, small towns and large megacities, blending of indian, spanish and mexican traditions, a territory of savory specialties and craft that route 66 covers endtoend over 400 miles. By the end of 1937, the paving of route 66 throughout the entire state was complete, making route 66 new mexicos first fully paved highway. Visiting new mexico on your route 66 road trip road trip usa.
We are not big car people, but really enjoyed this museum. Hotels near route 66, new mexico in nm choice hotels. Feb 27, 2015 the list of green book properties in the western us helps shine a different light on the race issue in the countrys history, prompting the national park services route 66 corridor program to. University area the university of new mexico unm portion of route 66 significantly overlaps with nob hill, but is worth mentioning as a distinct area. Illinois illinois route 66 heritage project 2175257980 send email. The first version of route 66 in new mexico crossed the eastern border at texas, cut through tucumcari and santa rosa, and then swooped northward to specifically connect santa fe to the national highway. After its establishment, route 66 became iconic, spanning more than 2,000 miles across seven statesillinois, missouri, oklahoma, texas, new mexico, arizona and california.
Historic route 66 turnbyturn description for new mexico. With route 66 as the only paved road crossing new mexico, development began to spread east and west along its path. The route 66 road map through new mexico takes the pre1937 path through santa fe. The legendary route 66 scenic byway enters new mexico across a vast, sunlit prairie before meandering through rocky outcrops, quiet streams and adobe villages. Not surprisingly, they are more numerous in the most populous regions of the country. Books that honor a part of american history and serve as educational tools or travel guides for route 66. A comprehenisve guide to route 66 in albuquerque by a former local, including attractions, neon signs, historical sites, places to eat, and places to stay. Some of the interesting information that this book mentions is as follows. Route 66 road trip from new mexico to arizonas grand canyon. New mexico kicks on route 66 takes you on a tour through all the fun places along the new mexico stretch, steeped in the rich and diverse history of the land of enchantment.
However, the experience of the road was not the same for everyone. There is less of the actual old road here than in other places, but the many towns and ghost towns along i40, built more or less on top of route 66, still stand. Route 66 crossed new mexicos western border into arizona just past gallup. Select the starting point and direction youd like to travel below. Traveling route 66, the famous mother road, from chicago to california has been a rite of passage since 1926. Visited tinkertown museum, musical road and checked out lots of vintage neon motel signs and mixed in a lot of abandoned towns and bizarre twists and.
You can speed across new mexico in 23 days, but theres a lot to do. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The new, more direct road shortened the route through the state from 506 to 399 miles. As in their heyday, the oldest among them are still announced by the neon light of oversized, vintagestyle neon billboards. Albuquerque is a great place to get your kicks and well provide a brief history of route 66 in albuquerque, share information on how to find and drive route 66 in the city, point out all the route 66 highlights in albuquerque, help you. This is the route that would be followed by the new interstate years later. Apr 05, 2018 day 5 of my route 66 trip across america. In 1937 the new mexico section of the highway was shortened by 107 miles. View all restaurants near route 66 auto museum on tripadvisor. It crosses the central part of the state, from glenrio on the texas state line to manuelito right next to arizona.
Route 66 through new mexico was realigned in 1937 to eliminate this dramatic scurve through the state. The town tucumcari takes its name from the nearby mountain and in the comanche language, the word means lookout. Route 66 railway explores the historyrelationship between u. Though no longer an official road, you can still follow the route 66 scenic byway across the entire state, east and west.
Dec 05, 2019 route 66 played an integral role in albuquerques growth and development in the early to mid 1900s and today you can still find route 66 era businesses, diners, motels, architecture, signs, and vibes in new mexicos largest city. New orleans is infamous for its spooky past, filled with tales of voodoo, vampires, ghosts, and witches. Along the way, the high desert landscape is both austere and sublime, its redhued cliffs dropping off into immense llanos or pinewooded hills and valleys. Route 66 and the historic negro motorist green book. The book proceeds along route 66 through new mexico from east to west roughly. The forgotten towns of route 66 in new mexico youtube. If youre not yet a diehard route 66 fan, traveling historic route 66 through arizona is bound to convert you. Route 66 national scenic byway new mexico tourism travel. Jan 23, 2020 us route 66 s map through new mexico shown below displays the main alignment that bypassed santa fe in 1937. Motels are distributed all along route 66 directly on the edge of the road. It took courage and resolve to be listed as a green book property. Route 66 is widely recognized around the world as an icon of 20 thcentury america, emphasizing personal mobility and pursuit of the american dream. Route 66 railway explores the history relationship between u. At the continental divide in new mexico, an old covered wagon is on display.
The sunset motel is the only remaining original route 66 motel in new mexico to still be owned by the original family. Rockin route 66 is a festival celebrating route 66 in tucumcari, new mexico the last weekend of june. Book now with choice hotels near route 66, new mexico in albuquerque, nm. Visited tinkertown museum, musical road and checked out lots of vintage neon motel signs and mixed in. New mexico is the land of enchantment, offering a fascinati. When i talk to people about the full history of route. Acoma pueblo in new mexico is dated as far back as 1100ad, nearly 1,000 years and claims to be one of, if not the oldest continuously inhabited city in north america. But did you know that 535 miles of the 2,450mile route ran right through new mexico. The charm, the history, and the atmosphere that make up the mother road bring travelers from all over the world to experience america the way it should be experienced down a stretch of highway where anything goes is literal.
Between 1933 and 1941, new mexico was a major recipient of these funds. Ancient cities and roadside route 66 history in new mexico. Route 66 us 66, route 66 ran eastwest across the central part of the state of new mexico, along the path now taken by interstate 40 i40. However, its something you will want on any route 66 trip. Everyone has to travel at least one section of historic route 66 in their lives.
Regardless of the alignment of 66 you choose, your experience will be enriched by having jack rittenhouse as your traveling companion. The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in the united states, originally ran from chicago. The history of the motel dates back to 1959 when elaine and bill pogue started the sunset motel to welcome travelers off of old 66. You can still sleep in a classic route 66 era motor court motel, eat a burger at a route 66 era diner, and. Best route 66 books 47 books meet your next favorite book. As route 66 doesnt appear on modern maps anymore, one needs a good description before heading out on the old 2lane highway. Route 66 mirrored this shameful chapter in american history. New mexico, only 6 percent of the more than 100 motels along albuquerques slice of route 66 admitted them. Guide to historic route 66 in albuquerque new mexico.
Every day at 8 am there is a market for indian handicrafts. Oct 18, 2019 plunge deep into americana on this 2,448mile odyssey from chicago to santa monica, calif. Highway 66 and the santa fe railway in the american southwest. Oct 21, 2017 traveling route 66, the famous mother road, from chicago to california has been a rite of passage since 1926. It displays the alignment of route 66 across the state and each of the. During this walking tour, save time with a guide who knows the quickest routes around the big easy and brings the folklore and history of the city to life, all during the creepiest time of daythe night. With great amenities and rooms for every budget, compare and book your hotel near route 66, new mexico today. The san miguel mission is the oldest continuously operated church in the united states. The highspeed i40 freeway gives quick access to some of the best surviving stretches of the old road, and these are some of.
The list of green book properties in the western us helps shine a different light on the race issue in the countrys history, prompting the national park services route 66 corridor program to. The santa fe plaza, the main square of the capital of new mexico, which arranges itself around the palace of the governors and is flanked by ravishing, small adobe buildings in the spanish pueblo style. Along the vintage pavement in the land of enchantment, you will also see ancient pueblo cities, both open and abandoned motels, lots of neon signs, and an eclectic mix of ancient and. Route 66 road trip from new mexico to arizonas grand. After all was said and done, route 66 became new mexicos first completely paved highway. Route 66, known by several names throughout the years including the mother road, main street of america, and the will rogers highway, this old highway served travelers for more than 50 years, before totally succumbing to the new and improved interstate system. By 1937, route 66 had straightened out and headed directly west across the state, reducing the previous years journey across new mexico by 107 miles. And also the original alignment through pecos, santa fe, algodones, peralta, suwanee 19261937, hich is shown in green.
This 1939 iconic blue swallow motel is one of the crown jewels of route 66. New mexico route 66 became fully modernized during the great depression, as the federal government undertook massive public spending programs, many of which concentrated on road building. For 90 years and more than 800 miles, these famous routes have been constant companions through california, arizona, and new mexico. New mexicos ribbon of the mother road provides the route 66 traveler with a variety of landscapes, from beautiful mountain ranges to sandstone mesas, desert sagebrush, ponderosa pines and ghost towns. Route 66 in new mexico was marked over portions of two auto trails the national old trails road from arizona via albuquerque and santa fe to just shy of las vegas, and one of the main routes of the ozark trails network from that point into texas. As in their heyday, the oldest among them are still announced by the neon light of. Us 66 was established on november 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. Route 66s legacy of racial segregation travel the guardian. Along the way, the high desert landscape is both austere and sublime, its redhued cliffs dropping off into immense llanos or. Route 66 us 66, route 66 ran eastwest across the central part of the. Route 66 auto museum santa rosa 2020 all you need to. Route 66 motels and historic hotels historic route 66. Plunge deep into americana on this 2,448mile odyssey from chicago to santa monica, calif.
This book tells about the interesting history of route 66 in new mexico. Catering mostly to students, central avenue between girard and i25 is bold and energetic. It also has the santa fe loop, the original alignment between 1926 and 1937. Weve highlighted the new mexico and arizona stretch of the mother road. New mexico if youre looking for great displays of neon signs, momandpop motels in the middle of nowhere, or kitschy americana, do as the song says and get your kicks on route 66. Route 66 corridor preservation program national trails intermountain region national park service p. Route 66 auto museum santa rosa 2020 all you need to know.
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