Albuquerque boasts the longest continuous urban stretch of Route 66 – Central Avenue, which spans 18 miles from east to west across the city! With so much road, there are countless stories around every corner. Here are three fun facts about Route 66 in Albuquerque that you might not know.
Route 66 at a Crossroads
Central Avenue & 4th Street
New Mexico is the only state along Route 66 where the historic highway crosses itself! At the intersection of 4th Street and Central Avenue, in downtown Albuquerque, is where the “Old Alignment” crosses the “New Alignment.” Route 66 originally went north to Santa Fe and south into Isleta Pueblo, but in 1937, it was redirected to go straight through Tijeras Canyon and down Railroad Avenue — now known as Central Avenue.
Why the change? Legend has it that Route 66 was embroiled in a political drama: the election of 1926, which saw Gov. Arthur T. Hannett’s crushing reelection loss. He believed that an elite group of politicians in Santa Fe had organized against him to ensure his loss. As revenge, his last action as governor was to outline a plan to realign the U.S. Highway 66 (not yet famous at the time) to go straight to Albuquerque from Santa Rosa. This story is why the route from Moriarty to Albuquerque is sometimes called “the Retribution Road.”
However, there might have been a simpler explanation for Gov. Hannett’s redrawing of U.S. Highway 66. At the time, there was no direct or safe route for farmers from eastern New Mexico to deliver their produce to Albuquerque, the state’s biggest commercial center. It is possible Gov. Hannett heard of this issue and corrected course for the economic benefit of the state.
But that’s not the end of the story. The next change happened in 1937. Until then, Route 66 made an S-curve north to Santa Fe, following the path of the old Santa Fe Trail, before returning south to Albuquerque. As part of a federal project to make highways safer, Route 66 was realigned to straighten its path through New Mexico, reducing its total mileage in the state from 507 miles long to 399 miles. The travel time across New Mexico’s Route 66 was cut by four hours because of the realignment.
Stop Where Elvis Stopped
Nine-Mile Hill
For travelers coming from the west, the first glimpse of Albuquerque is at Nine Mile Hill, a steep slope that opens to a gorgeous view of the Rio Grande valley. According to Old Town historian Emma Moya, Elvis Presley drove his pink Cadillac for a good stretch of Route 66 from Los Angeles, California to Graceland, Tennessee. When he approached the dazzling night view of Albuquerque, he would stop and stare at all the city lights. The kids from Old Town would hear of his arrival and watch him from a nearby filling station.
Nine Mile Hill gets its name from the distance it spans between the westernmost edge of the city and the actual city limit. In the 1940s, kids who lived in Old Town, Barelas, Arenal and Atrisco took their cars and motorcycles out to Nine Mile Hill to race down the dunes. Families would congregate to watch their sons, often waiting out dust storms in their vehicles until they calmed enough for a race. The races were an exciting attraction – expert mechanics stood by with oil jugs, water and air pumps on the sidelines for the racers.
The West Central Route 66 Visitor Center, located at Nine Mile Hill, is reopening soon and will be a must-visit stop along any Route 66 road trip through Albuquerque.
Photo credit: Shawn Brandow
Fueling Flavor!
Historic Gas Stations Turned Eateries
Many historic gas stations enjoy a new, renovated life along Route 66 in Albuquerque. You’ll find staple neighborhood eateries and shops in historic service station buildings all along Central Avenue to the delight of tourists and locals alike.
66 Diner
66 Diner was once a Phillips 66 gas and service station called “Sam’s 66 Service.” In 1987, only two years after the decommission of Route 66, Sam’s 66 Service was purchased by Tom and Christy Willis and transformed into a sock-hopping 1950s-inspired diner. Home to more than 700 Pez dispensers, a jukebox, an outdoor vintage sign gallery and dozens of Betty Boop dolls, 66 Diner is a must-see. Be sure to sip one of their famous milkshakes while you’re there.
This building, and many others of its kind, is in the Streamline Moderne architectural style. Sometimes called “Depression Moderne,” Streamline Moderne developed nationwide in the 1930s in response to the growing airplane, train and automobile industries. You might notice a Streamline Moderne building looks like a boat or an Airstream trailer. It took elements of the popular Art Deco style that dominated the 1920s: strong geometric forms such as chevrons, squares within squares and diamonds. Streamline Moderne buildings like those listed here seem aerodynamic with their swooshing curves and porthole windows. Manmade materials like neon and glass blocks are signatures of this style.
66 Diner and its Central Avenue neighbors, M’Tucci’s, Range Café, Fan Tang and Little Bear are prime examples of renovated Route 66 gas stations that retain their original architectural charm.
Unknown, Sam’s 66 Service Station, ca. 1940’s.
66 Diner today.
M'tucci's Bar Roma
M’Tucci’s Bar Roma was once the Jones Motor Company: a gas station, service station and car dealership all-in-one. Note the in-site Texaco pumps! “Service” and “Lubrication” signs still sit atop of the new dining areas, lending to the site’s authentic Route 66 flair. This Streamline Moderne station was constructed in 1939, two years after Route 66 was aligned through Albuquerque.
Hanna & Hanna (for Albuquerque Progress), Jones Motor Company (Under Construction, East Central and Wellesley Street), October 1939, gelatin silver print, Albuquerque Museum, PA1980.061.272.
Unknown, Jones Motor Company, ca. early 1940’s.
M'Tucci's Bar Roma today.
Little Bear Coffee & Wine Bar
Little Bear Coffee’s red and white “DISCO” sign would suggest a former dance hall, but “Disco” was actually the last name of the family who owned the previous business at this old service station. Before the Disco family, this building was a 1930s “Save Way” gas and service station. The window pane wall was once the gas station's exterior, now enclosed for the comfort of the students, remote workers and coffee lovers who frequent Little Bear. You can still see the original paint of the service station if you look closely!
Unknown, Save Way Gas Nob Hill Station, ca. 1955, gelatin silver print, Albuquerque Museum, PA2023.018.001. Ray Carnes stands with his car in the foreground.
Little Bear today.
Fan Tang
Asian-fusion restaurant, Fan Tang, occupies the McCormick / Johnston Standard Station in Nob Hill. It shares a similar geometric tower as the old Jones Motor Co. building (M’Tucci’s Bar Roma). The flat-topped canopy you see in the archival photo is now an enclosed dining area.
Unknown, Andy Johnston Service Station, to the right is Ray Carnes and to the left, an unknown man), ca. 1955, gelatin silver print, Albuquerque Museum, PA2023.018.008.
Fan Tang today.
Range Café
Finally, the Range Café’s East Downtown location is in the historic Carothers & Mauldin Texaco Service Station building. The building previously housed the Standard Diner. The classic Streamline Moderne style is echoed again here and honored with few alterations.
Unknown (printed in Albuquerque Progress), Carothers and Mauldin Texaco Service Station, March 1938, gelatin silver print, Albuquerque Museum, PA1980.061.158.
Range Café today.
