Hispanic Heritage on Route 66

Hispanic influence in Albuquerque dates to the 16th century, when settlers from Spain established colonies throughout the region that is known today as New Mexico.

Today, Hispanic heritage and culture is reflected throughout the city’s art, architecture, cuisine, celebrations and more, including in the historic Village of Atrisco, a Route 66 neighborhood on the west side of Albuquerque. Spanish documents date the establishment of Atrisco to 1703, making it one of the oldest Hispanic communities in the region. The name itself is derived from the Nahuatl word atlixco, meaning “water surface,” reflecting the deep Indigenous influences within Hispanic heritage in the Southwest.

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the legendary trade route linking Mexico City to northern New Mexico, helped shape centuries of Hispanic identity in Albuquerque. First traveled by Indigenous peoples long before Spanish exploration, the route later became an artery of commerce under the Spanish crown, connecting Mexico to settlements like Ohkay Owingeh (formerly San Juan Pueblo) and Santa Fe. Centuries later, this very route was reimagined as U.S. Route 66, continuing to carry goods, people and ideas across the Southwest and leaving an indelible mark on Albuquerque’s identity.

The heart of Albuquerque’s Hispanic heritage can be felt in Old Town, where the city was founded in 1706 as a Spanish colonial outpost named for the Duke of Alburquerque, a viceroy of New Spain. (Note the extra “r” in his title, which was lost over time.) Located along Route 66, Old Town’s adobe buildings, serene plaza and secret courtyards are a gathering place where residents and visitors can celebrate the city’s storied past. Old Town’s San Felipe de Neri Church, built in 1793, is the oldest church in Albuquerque. 

Hispanic heritage is woven into the fabric of Albuquerque, where traditions have been preserved by local scholars, artists, and communities. Historian Emma Moya, for example, documented the stories of Hispanic families who lived and worked along Route 66, ensuring their contributions would not be lost to time. 

Also dedicated to preserving Hispanic history is the National Hispanic Cultural Center, in Albuquerque’s Barelas neighborhood along Route 66. The center tells the story of Hispanic, Chicano and Latinx art, culture and history through exhibitions, performances and research. The center also is home to the Hispanic Genealogical Research Center, which maintains records of Spanish ancestry in the Southwest.

Lowrider car culture, deeply embedded in New Mexico’s Hispanic communities, also played a key role in keeping the memory of Route 66 alive. More than just an automotive tradition, lowriding is a form of artistic and cultural expression that embodies the resilience and creativity of Hispanic heritage in the Southwest. The very presence of lowriders cruising down Central Avenue speaks to the migratory patterns of Hispanic families along Route 66, from California to New Mexico and back again.

From the founding of Old Town to the neon glow of Route 66, Hispanic heritage in Albuquerque is a living legacy shaped by centuries of movement, adaptation and tradition.