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A Route 66 Timeline
1926-2026
1880
The AT&SF Railyards
April 10, 1880
The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF) opens a depot in Albuquerque. This would establish Albuquerque as a major commercial center in the Southwest. The rail line followed the Old Santa Fe Trail, then known as El Camino Real (“The Royal Road”). El Camino Real was one of the many active Hispanic and Native trade routes used for agricultural exchange between the communities. The route was little more than a dirt path for centuries, cutting through dry arroyos (riverbeds).
Due to the railroad, the first organized effort to construct better roads and bridges began in New Mexico. These roads moved throughout New Mexico to connect rural areas with the railroads in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
1889
The University of New Mexico is Established
February 28, 1889
The University of New Mexico (UNM) opens its doors as the first university in a U.S. territory.
UNM, which sits right at the corner of Route 66 / Central Ave and University Blvd, would attract scholars, artists, poets and architects from all over the world—many of whom would settle permanently in Albuquerque.
1900
Galles Introduces the Locomobile
1900
Nicholas Galles brings the first automobile (a “locomobile”) to Albuquerque. Galles founded the first car dealership in Albuquerque in 1908. He would sell the first eleven vehicles in the entire city.
1902
The Alvarado Hotel
May 1902
Railroad mogul and tourism entrepreneur, Fred Harvey, opens the Alvarado Hotel on 1st and Railroad Avenue [Central Avenue]. It was a famous Harvey House that hosted workers, travelers, politicians and tourists for decades until its closure in 1970.
Today, the Alvarado Transport Center pays homage to the Alvarado Hotel in its look and name.
1909
New Mexico Good Roads Association (NMGRA)
1909
The New Mexico Good Roads Associations was established, with the goal of improving county roads through a uniform road system with continued maintenance by the government. The NMGRA lobbied for the first federal highway system (the U.S. Numbered Highways).
1912
New Mexico Becomes a State in the Union
January 6, 1912
New Mexico becomes the 47th state in the Union, ending the Territorial Era and encouraging settlement by Americans from the eastern states.
1926
The Birth of Route 66
November 11, 1926
The U.S. Numbered Highway System was launched by the federal government, with many roads under construction during the announcement. Route 66, a highway beginning in Chicago, IL and terminating in Santa Monica, CA, was one of many roads opened at this time. Nobody could have predicted what would become of U.S. Highway 66.
Pictured: Construction of U.S. Highway 66, Tijeras Canyon, NM, ca. 1935, gelatin silver print. Albuquerque Museum, gift of John Airy. PA1982.181.224
1927
KiMo Built
September 19, 1927
Oreste Bachechi constructs the KiMo Theater in Downtown Albuquerque. Bachechi was an Italian immigrant with a passion for entertainment and movies. The iconic building, designed by the Boller Brothers, is exemplary of the Pueblo Deco architectural style of the day. The KiMo would be the beginning of Albuquerque’s transformation from a small ranch settlement and railroad hub, to an urban American city.
Pictured: The KiMo Theatre, ca. 1927, gelatin silver print. Albuquerque Museum, gift of John Airy. PA1982.180.718.
1933
The Dust Bowl
November 11, 1933
The first dust storm hits South Dakota, literally uprooting farmers and their lands. The dust spread across the Midwest all the way into Chicago, IL. The displaced farmers would pack up and leave for California’s promising agricultural industry over the following decade. To get there, they took Route 66.
American author John Steinbeck memorialized Route 66 during the Dust Bowl in his 1939 book, “The Grapes of Wrath”, where he coined the nickname, “The Mother Road”.
1935
The New Deal / WPA
May 6, 1935
The Works Progress Administration was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the Second New Deal, a series of policies to ensure the economic stability and employment of Americans during the Great Depression. Many buildings on Central Avenue were WPA-funded projects. Among those are the Tingley Beach, the Monte Vista Fire Station (now a chic lounge called The Smoky Note), and UNM’s Zimmerman Library.
Another iconic WPA project are the Maisel Murals at 510 Central Avenue, painted by a crew of esteemed Native artists, such as Pop Chalee, Popovi Da, and Pablita Velarde, under the guidance of Santa Fe Indian School teacher, Olive Rush.
1937
Albuquerque's First Motor Court
January 1937
New Mexico governor, Arthur T. Hannett, devises a plan to redirect commercial flow straight to Albuquerque, the railroad hotspot. Hannett declared to reroute Highway 66 from its original “up/down” Santa Fe orientation to instead pave straight through Albuquerque from the east. The “post-1937” alignment is the stretch between Moriarty, NM and Grants, NM, down Central Avenue.
The first automobile-oriented motel, El Vado, was built in 1937 shortly after Gov. Hannett's motion. It was the first motel of its kind in Albuquerque, built in anticipation complete with a Spanish Pueblo Revival-style architecture that would set New Mexico apart on Route 66. You can still visit and stay at El Vado today.
1940
"A Guide to the Colorful State"
August 1940
The Works Progress Administration publishes the first New Mexico Tourism Guide (“New Mexico: A Guide to the Colorful State”). This guidebook was part of a series produced by the Writer’s Program of the WPA to garner interest in domestic autotourism.
1945
World War II and 66
1945
The success of the Trinity Test and the Manhattan Project marked the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War. Employment by Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base (located in Albuquerque) contributed to the biggest population increase the city had ever experienced. Housing additions and suburban developments sprawled all over the desert valley.
1946
"Get Yours Kicks on Route 66" Breaks the Airwaves
April 22, 1946
The Nat King Cole Trio releases their hit single, “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”, written by Bobby Troup. The jingly rhythm and blues tune quickly became an American standard. Bing Crosby, the Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode, Chuck Berry and John Mayer have since recorded covers of the famous track.
1947
Nob Hill Thrives on 66
1947
In the spring of 1947, developer Robert B. Waggoman and architect Louis G. Hesselden completed New Mexico’s first modern drive-up business center: the Nob Hill Business Center. The complex is a fine example of the Streamline Moderne style that continued popularity on Route 66 from the 1930’s, taking on Atomic Age motifs as it evolved throughout the midcentury. This Streamline Moderne building has a Territorial New Mexican sensibility, with its white stucco walls, brown terracotta and brick-lined roof. Today, the Nob Hill Business Center is still fully operational with boutiques, bookstores, and restaurants.
1950
Hiland Theater
April 20, 1950
The Hiland Theater opened on Route 66 in the easternmost edge of Nob Hill, in the Highland Business area. During its heyday, the Hiland sat over 1,000 audience members with a parking lot that held 350 cars. It is now the home of the National Dance Institute of New Mexico, with its classic neon sign still shining bright.
1963
Horizon Pillar
1963-1968
Central Avenue and Downtown Albuquerque enjoy a period of economic prosperity and urban redevelopment. The Bank of the West tower was constructed in 1963. According to a press release about the new bank, a construction worker described the tower as a “horizon pillar” due to its glittering gold mosaic panels that shone in the sunset.
1968
I-40 Impedes on 66
1968
Trouble is on the horizon for Route 66: Interstate 40 completes construction, promising faster movement across the expansive city. The new highway overtakes parts of Route 66, entirely replacing some sections, or simply moving the flow of traffic next to the old road.
1971
Frontier Opens for Business
The Albuquerque staple, the Frontier Restaurant, opens across from the University of New Mexico in the former site of Chisum’s Drugstore.
1978
KiMo Saved by the City
1978
The City of Albuquerque purchases the KiMo Theater for renovation and preservation. In 1982, the KiMo would reopen for performances and entertainment. The property is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2011, the theater reinstalled its original neon KiMo sign, which had been removed in 1960. Today, you can enjoy a live music or dance performance inside the legendary theatre!
1984
Decommissioned 66
After total completion of I-40 in October 1984, Route 66 would be legally decommissioned in 1985. The road was no longer maintained by the federal government. It was now up to local organizations, state historical societies, private businesses and city governments to preserve their Route 66 structures and roadways.
1987
66 Diner Opens for Business
Tom and Christy Willis purchase a former Phillips 66 service station on the corner of Central Avenue and Sycamore Street and transform it into the beloved 66 Diner. 66 Diner serves delicious milkshakes and American cuisine with a brightly-colored, black-and-white checkerboard 1950’s-style interior.
1989
The New Mexico Route 66 Association
The New Mexico Route 66 Association was founded as a non-profit with the dedicated goal to educate, promote and preserve New Mexico’s stretch of Route 66 along all 604 miles in the state. The Association publishes a quarterly magazine regarding updates on the highway and Centennial activities.
Check out the Association's projects, awards and events at rt66nm.org
1999
Natl. Route 66 Preservation Bill
President Bill Clinton signed into law the National Route 66 Preservation Bill, which would provide $10 million in grants to various individuals, businesses, and historical organizations to preserve their Route 66 infrastructure.
2011
Fan Tang
Jason Zeng buys the old Andy Johnston Service Station building (c. 1946) and opens Fan Tang, the premiere Asian Fusion eatery in Nob Hill.
2018
El Vado Reopens
The El Vado Motel holds a grand reopening after its closure in 2005, with support from the City of Albuquerque and the Portland-based development partner Palindrome Communities. The boutique motel boasts its original adobe from 1937, alongside a pool, a food court, a chic tap room, and amphitheater for entertainment.
2019
Little Bear opens in Nob Hill
2019
Little Bear Coffee Co. opens their Nob Hill Location to the public in the old Disco Party Supply Warehouse (note the bright red “DISCO” sign!). The building originally served as a Save Way gas and service station, constructed in the 1930’s during the peak of the Dust Bowl migration.
2021
M'Tucci's Lights Up Nob Hill
2021
Local Italian restaurant chain, M’Tucci’s, moves into the former Jones Motor Company location in Nob Hill, which previously housed Kelly’s Brew Pub. The building retains its auto-shop neon character with signage that says “SERVICE” and “LUBRICANT”, a glowing stretch of red neon along the curvature of the Streamline Moderne architecture and two in-situ gas pumps that stand proudly among the outdoor seating.
2025
The Imperial Returns
2024
The Imperial 400's sign lights up again after a major top-down renovation, including the addition of a trendy indoor food hall and poolside "dive" bar. Route 66 revival is in full swing.