Explore Barelas & The South Valley

Pre-1937 Route 66

Immediately south of Downtown is a historic enclave of New Mexican culture and industry. Established on paper in 1662 by colonial governor Diego de Peñalosa, the name Barelas originates from the first landowner in the area, Pedro Varela. The pre-1937 alignment of Route 66 went through quiet Barelas on 4th Street. After the introduction of Route 66 in 1926, historic locations such as the Red Ball Cafe, Ives Flower and Gift Shop, and the B Ruppe Drugstore popped up along 4th Street. When Route 66 was rerouted to Central Avenue, business survived on the railroad industry bringing workers from all over the nation. Today, the Rail Yards thrive as a gathering place for locals and musicians with the seasonal Rail Yards Market. Barelas resiliently continues its storied Route 66 legacy.

Barelas has some of Albuquerque’s quintessential New Mexican eats! El Modelo, established in 1929, is a local favorite for delicious burritos and authentic tamales. Barelas Coffee House is a classic Albuquerque diner known for its New Mexico standards, like huevos rancheros and carne adovada.

A photo of Fito's and Bromo's on 4th Street before Barelas Coffee House moved into the building in 1978.

Unknown, Fito's and Bromo's (currently Barelas Coffee House), date unknown. Courtesy of Monica Bencomo.

Just sightseeing? For the Route 66 architecture enthusiast, Barelas is home to some of Albuquerque’s most authentic roadside monuments on the pre-1937 alignment. Look for the Magnolia Service Station, a 1931 gas station decorated with a polychrome mural honoring the heart and history of la gente in Albuquerque. The B Ruppe Drugstore and its pastel pink sign might catch your eye initially, but the serene gaze of Doña Maclovia Sanchez de Zamora on its farside will capture you. Nani Chacon’s iconic mural depicts Zamora, a nationally-recognized curandera (natural healer) who converted the drugstore into a yerberia (store for folk medicine). You can visit the micromuseum inside B Ruppe today to learn more about the life and legacy of Maclovia Zamora and New Mexican curanderismo.

South 4th Street Pedestrians (1969)

Walter McDonald, A Man and a Woman Walk Down South 4th Street (Barelas), August 1969. Albuquerque Museum, PA1996.006.729

Barelas is home to the National Hispanic Cultural Center, located at 1701 4th Street SW, which displays art and material culture from across the Latino/a diaspora in the United States. NHCC hosts community events, such as the Annual Luminito Celebration in December, that honor Albuquerque’s rich and varied Latino/Hispanic heritage customs across the Southwest.

Just southwest of Barelas is the South Valley, an area abundant with history and natural beauty. The pre-1937 stretch of Route 66 crossed the Rio Grande at Bridge Boulevard and went south following Isleta Boulevard. On Isleta Boulevard, learn more about New Mexico's agricultural heritage, Native American and Hispanic history at the Gutierrez-Hubbell House, a Territorial-era hacienda built in the 1860s. Stretch your legs after a long day of driving at one of the South Valley's many open spaces for outdoor recreation, like Durand Open Space near the Rio Grande Bosque.

Want to learn more?

Be sure to check out Barelas' Route 66 website and the Barelas Historic Walking Tour, by Barelas historic preservationist Monica Bencomo.

South 4th Street (1969)

Walter McDonald, A White Ford on South Fourth Street, September 1969. Albuquerque Museum. PA1996.006.086

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