Meet Alicia Romero, Ph.D.

Curator of History, Albuquerque Museum

At the nexus of the ancient Rio Grande and Route 66, New Mexico’s roots intertwine.

Established in the heart of Old Town in 1967, just off of historic Route 66, the Albuquerque Museum has served the Albuquerque community and the Southwest at large through storytelling and programming that brings people together.

Dr. Alicia Romero, curator of history at the Albuquerque Museum since 2023, was born and raised in Albuquerque, but her ancestral roots trace back to northern New Mexico.

She graduated from the University of New Mexico with bachelor’s and master’s degrees and journeyed off to the Golden State to write her Ph.D. dissertation on Barelas – the storied neighborhood south of Downtown Albuquerque. Afterward, Alicia served as Head Curator at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe before joining the Albuquerque Museum team.

Alicia Romero, Albuquerque Museum

Alicia’s deep understanding and appreciation of Albuquerque, its people and its history has shaped her approach to Route 66. The 18-mile stretch of Route 66 that passes through Albuquerque is known locally as Central Avenue. “Growing up, we didn’t think of Central [Avenue] as Route 66,” she explained.

“My fondest memory on Route 66 is going to my baile folklórico lessons at a dance studio near the El Don Motel. We would blast our music and dance in front of these big windows that took up the wall. People would walk by, stop and watch. That is the essence of Central Avenue to me: witnessing the different sights and sounds that make up each neighborhood.”

When asked about her favorite spot along Albuquerque’s Route 66, Alicia noted an oft-overlooked architectural icon of the Route: the Rio Grande Bridge.

“The bridge is a connection point. Whenever I drive west over the Rio Grande, I always look to the north, remembering where my family came from. The river and the bridge tie together all of these New Mexican communities near and far.”

The Rio Grande Bridge (built 1930) was designated a City Historic Landmark in 2024 for its role in reshaping Route 66 and honoring the legacy of crossing the Rio Grande, dating back to the village of Albuquerque’s settlement in 1706. There are benches on the north and south-facing barriers of the bridge where one can peer over the river and enjoy the Bosque's shifting colors.

What is your top recommendation for those visiting Albuquerque for the first time?

Alicia recommends that any first-time visitor check out the ABQ BioPark Zoo and Botanic Garden, neighboring the Rio Grande and Old Town Albuquerque. “I love all four seasons in Albuquerque, but I prefer the summer. The Zoo and Botanic Garden are amazing in the summer.”

A landscape view of the Japanese Gardens at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden

Japanese Gardens at the ABQ BioPark Botanical Gardens.

For a slice of regular Albuquerque life, she recommends the Frontier Restaurant across from UNM. “I like to grab a cup of coffee and people-watch. Frontier is one of those places where you see everyone and anyone.”

Everyone is at home in Frontier, one of Albuquerque’s famed Route 66 institutions that brings a New Mexican sensibility to American classics. However, Alicia’s go-to New Mexican plate is something you’re more likely to find in a home cocina: beans and chicos (slow-roasted corn kernels) with red chile. While it is uncommon to find in restaurants, try asking for chicos in your beans next time you find yourself at a traditional New Mexican eatery.

What is Albuquerque’s best-kept secret?

A shot of the midway at the New Mexico State Fair.

The Midway at the New Mexico State Fair, EXPO New Mexico.

“The State Fair!” Alicia responded. “It’s very local, but anybody can enjoy the fair.”

The New Mexico State Fair occurs annually every September at EXPO New Mexico, featuring concerts, art and agriculture exhibitions, Hispanic and Native American culture, local vendors, fair food favorites and a bustling midway. At the State Fair, experience a true rodeo complete with barrel racing, bareback riding and roping – a sport that exemplifies New Mexico’s Southwestern heritage.

—

Dr. Alicia Romero is curating a special exhibition for the Route 66 Centennial entitled “The Other Route 66: 100 Years of People, Identity, and Place” at the Albuquerque Museum. “The Other Route 66” features historic objects, photographs, ephemera, neon signs, music and more from the 352-mile stretch of highway spanning New Mexico from the eyes of the everyday New Mexicans who built the road’s legacy. The exhibition will open June 6, 2026, and run through Jan. 3, 2027.