When New Mexico was made a state in 1912, there were only 28 miles of paved roads. Once completed, Route 66 became New Mexico’s first fully paved highway.
Nicknamed the “Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in his book “The Grapes of Wrath,” Route 66 symbolized the freedom of the open road and the “road to opportunity” for people migrating to California to escape the Dust Bowl despair of the 1930s.
Across the state and nationally, work has already begun to commemorate the scenic byway; a unique blend of old and new. Here’s a look at some of the efforts.
The Centennial
New Mexico’s Route 66 Centennial Coordination Group held its first meeting in Tucumcari on Feb. 29. They are seeking input from New Mexico residents on special events, marketing and promotion, product development and infrastructure for the celebration.
In February, the City of Albuquerque awarded $432,000 in improvement grants to 14 historic Route 66 signs along Central Avenue. In 2003, nine vintage Route 66 neon signs were restored to their previous brilliance.
Parts of New Mexico’s Historic Route 66 are pre-1938 and some are post-1938. In 1926, Route 66 passed through Sandoval County from Santa Fe through Algodones, the Santa Ana Pueblo, Bernalillo and Sandia Pueblo to 4th Street in Albuquerque. The road descended through hairpin turns to Albuquerque and by 1938 it had been rerouted and straightened, heading directly from Santa Rosa to Albuquerque.
There’s a backstory to the rerouting, giving rise to “Retribution Road” as another nickname for Route 66. It comes from the exploits of New Mexico Gov. A.T. Hannett in the late 1920s. After losing re-election, he took revenge on Santa Fe by building the Albuquerque to Santa Rosa route, bypassing the capital with the new alignment that took 90 miles off the journey to Albuquerque.
Loose Rooster Films in Bernalillo is in the preproduction phase of “Ramblin’ Down Rt. 66.” The series is designed to be an ongoing PBS project on the original 66 (pre-1937 alignment) that runs through Bernalillo past the historic Silva Saloon. The film company is owned by the show’s producer Bernalillo resident Brock T Fuller, and Carlsbad’s Stacy Dean Campbell – (Nashville Fame- PBS Bronco Roads Emmy award winner)
“From our past relationships with the PBS, they’re interested in the project,” Fuller told the Signpost. He explained the series initially follows the Mother Road from Santa Rosa along the Santa Fe Loop circling back to Hannett’s newly designed “Retribution Road.” The series also focuses specifically on Bernalillo and Sandoval County and then south to the intersection of 4th St. and Central Ave. Along the way, they will visit numerous historic businesses and venues on and adjacent to the route – intertwining interviews, music, literature, and photography.
The series will explore the Dust Bowl and the Santa Fe Railroad which paralleled the Mother Road for many miles through the New Mexico plains. Loose Rooster Films is actively seeking sponsorship from corporations or individuals to fund the series.
On a national level the National U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission, is calling for submissions for national, multi-state, or single-state activities, projects, events or programs. After vetting, the Commission will submit its recommendations to Congress.
National Geographic’s Best of the World 2024 list included a road trip along Route 66 through New Mexico as one of the top 20 travel experiences in the world.