Four regional historical societies will present a free monthly speaker series throughout 2026, celebrating the centennial of Route 66, with programs scheduled at 12 venues across the Albuquerque metropolitan area.
The Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series will run from January through November 2026, meeting on the fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The inaugural program is scheduled for Jan. 24 at multiple locations, including East Mountain Public Library in Tijeras.
The series features more than 15 speakers exploring the history and cultural impact of America’s “Mother Road,” covering topics from Civil War sites along the highway to ethnic merchants who built businesses on the route.
“A lot happened on the Mother Road before, during and after the life of Route 66,” organizers said in the announcement.
Featured presentations include “Chinese Merchants on ABQ’s Route 66” by Aimee Tang, “The KiMo Theatre: Fact and Folklore” by Jacqueline Murray Loring, and “Tijeras Canyon: Five Miles of Road and Hundreds of Stories” by Hazel Lathrop.
Most venues are situated on Historic Route 66, including both the original 1926 route and the 1937 realignment through the Albuquerque area.
The series is organized by a four-person committee: Diane Schaller of Historic Albuquerque Inc., Debbie Post of East Mountain Historical Society, Janet Saiers of Albuquerque Historical Society and Gordene MacKenzie of Los Ranchos Historical Society.
Locations include libraries in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo and Tijeras; the Gutierrez-Hubbell House; Isleta Pueblo Cultural Center; and the Wheels Museum.
The program is sponsored by the Albuquerque Historical Society, East Mountain Historical Society, Historic Albuquerque Inc. and Los Ranchos Historical Society, with support from Bernalillo County, the cities of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, and other local entities.
