New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

U.S. Route 66 (also known as The Main Street of America, The Mother Road, and the Will Rogers Highway) was established on November 11, 1926. It originally ran from Chicago, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, ending in Los Angeles, a total of 2,448 miles (3,939 km). It was also called the Road to Freedom, serving as the route the farmers used to escape the Dust Bowl poverty during the Great Depression. Route 66 underwent various realignments and later ended in Santa Monica, Ca. On July 27, 1985, it was decomissioned (removed from the U.S. Highway System), as it was then considered irrevelant, being replaced by the Interstate Highway System. Route 66 through New Mexico was also realigned from transversing north to south to an east to west route, a section of the new route running through Albuquerque. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Route 66 travels through Albuquerque on Central Avenue, which, today, is not a very attractive road, but one chock full of original Route 66 buildings: motels (sometimes only the original motel signs), theatres, gas stations, cafes, and art deco buildings, among others. For our sightseeing, Linda and I used an Historic Route 66 Map and Guide that I had picked up from the tourist office in Albuquerque’s Old Town. I drove and Linda navigated and took photos. Photo of Route 66’s Central Avenue through Albuquerque. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

The La Puerta Motor Lodge, 1949. In 1955, the number of motels along Central Avenue was at a high of 98. Today, almost 40 of the pre–1955 motels remain, some in good shape and fixed up, some still open for business but not very inviting, and some boarded up. After awhile, Linda and I could pick out these motels simply by their pre–1955 neon signs. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Luna Lodge, 1949. Attractively restored. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Pinon Lodge, 1946–47. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Loma Verde Motel, no date. Not in good shape, but still offering rooms. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

De Anza Motor Lodge, 1935. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Probably the Tewa Motor Lodge, 1946. Still in business, rooms starting at $19.95 per night. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Atzec Motel. Close–up of the figures on top of the roof and the balcony. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Aztec Motel––the rooms. I couldn’t find out what the rates are to stay here. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Aztec Motel, another view. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Aztec Motel. Close–up of the painting on the wall in the last photo. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Aztec Motel––another view of it. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Town House Restaurant, 1958. A post–1955 building but I thought to cow on top of it was interesting. (Linda’ photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Route 66 Nob Hill buildings, today a residential and commercial area known for its eclectic cafes and shops and with a number of architectural styles: Pueblo Revival, Spanish Territorial, Streamline Modern, and Art Deco. (Linda’ photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Nob Hill Motel sign, no date. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

The Albuquerque train station and railway bridge. We are now entering downtown Albuquerque, after passing the University of New Mexico’s campus of beautiful pueblo–style buildings. It’s worth a visit to the university (architecture, museums) if you have the time. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

We parked our car and walked a little around the Albuquerque downtown area. The photo is of the Pueblo–Deco Kimo Theatre, 1927. It was a venue built for vaudeville acts. Inside it are restored artwork, murals, and an ornate interior (we didn’t go inside it).

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Close–up of artwork at the front of the Kimo Theatre.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

The Kimo Theatre from another angle.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

And another.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Lindy’s Art Deco Coffee Shop, 1929, near the Kimo Theatre.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

The El Rey Theatre, 1941.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Skip Maisel’s Indian Jewelry and Crafts, 1939. If you want to find a good selection of lower–priced Indian arts and crafts and also some good buys on jewelry (including a good selection of clip earrings), make this one of your stops.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

1933 murals on either side of the entrance of Skip Maisel’s by Navajo painter Harrison Begay and Pueblo painter Pablita Velarde.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

One of several very large murals on the side of the downtown buildings. The whole downtown area is worth some of your time to walk around as there are other old buildings of interest here. Some of them are pointed out in the Route 66 guide. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Back in our car, we crossed over the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande extends southward from southern Colorado, lenghtwise down the entire state of New Mexico, and then eastward to form the border between Texas and Mexico. It is the third longest river in the United States. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Traveling under a decorated Route 66 sign. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Western View Diner and Steak House, 1949. We had reached the end of the commercial area and turned around. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

The view travelers would have had coming into Albuquerque from the west. The Scandia Mountains are in the background. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Probably the Grandview Motel, 1954. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Old gas station, no year, and an original motel sign, but no motel remains here, just its sign. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

La Hacienda Motel, 1947. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Recrossing the Rio Grande River. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

A modern Albuquerque apartment house. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

El Vado Motel, 1937. Still a very attractive motel, but now boarded up. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Another view of the El Vado Motel. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

For sale sign on the El Vado Motel. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Time for lunch at the 50’s–themed Route 66 Restaurant.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Inside the Route 66 Restaurant. I had a hamburger and a strawberry ice cream soda and Linda had a sandwich and a chocolate ice cream soda. The sodas did taste pretty much here as they did in the 1950s.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

A Route 66 map in the Route 66 Restaurant.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

An all–Marilyn poster in the restaurant.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

A dining room inside the Route 66 Restaurant.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Part of the restaurant’s old Pez dispenser collection.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

More of its Pez collection.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

The restaurant’s “Rock–Around–the–Clock” clock.

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Hiland Theatre, 1952. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Desert Sands Motor Hotel, 1953. Still in business, rooms starting at $24.00 single. The twin of this hotel is west of downtown. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

A skinny Paul Bunyan on a post along the route. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Off New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

We cut back to Linda’s home on Tramway which runs along the foot of the Sandia Mountains, quite a change from busy Central Avenue. Note: It would take several trips along Route 66 to see all the old buildings on it or else a very, very slow trip with numerous stops. Your time on it would depend on how interested you are in this era and/or how much time you have to spend in Albuquerque. When I go back to Albuquerque, I want to spend some time walking around the downtown area, Nob Hill, and the University of New Mexico. (Linda’s photo)

Off New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Off New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Attractive apartments/condos on Tramway. (Linda’s photo)

Off New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Off New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

A beautiful pueblo–style housing development at the foot of the Sandia Mountains, seen going back to Linda’s home. (Linda’s photo)

Off New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66

Aztec Motel, 1931. This is the oldest surviving Route 66 motel in New Mexico and definitely the most interesting one. It’s unique decor is by Phyllis Evans, a retired teacher and resident at the motel. (Linda’s photo)

New Mexico Historic U.S. Route 66