Route 66 Exhibits and Talks

June 6, 2026 – January 3, 2027: Albuquerque History Museum Exhibit

The Other Route 66: 100 Years of People, Identity, and Place in Albuquerque

November 11, 2026 marks the centennial of Route 66, a road often celebrated as a symbol of freedom and the American dream. Stretching across seven states and over 2,400 miles, Route 66 carried millions of travelers, hosted countless small businesses, and became a site of encounter, displacement, and settlement. Yet the story of this iconic highway is far from uniform, and each path it crosses has its own story to tell. The Other Route 66: 100 Years of People, Identity, and Place in Albuquerque invites visitors to explore these layered narratives. This exhibition centers the lives of those who traveled, worked, and lived alongside the road, including stories often left out of mainstream accounts: migrants seeking opportunity, communities shaped by segregation and commerce, and the individuals whose identities were forged at this intersection of movement and place. This exhibition is supported by the Mellon Foundation.

August 22

Richard Ruddy: An Iconic View: Route 66 in Downtown Albuquerque

Ruddy’s talk looks at the impact that Route 66 had on Albuquerque’s main street, Central Avenue. We see downtown grow from before Route 66 was founded to a vibrant business district the Saturday Evening Post said had “a blazing main drag” and which the Chamber of Commerce claimed to be the brightest main street in America. But there is a downside to this growth which the iconic photographs also show as the city today valiantly fights to find a new identity for its central business district. 
When the railroad arrived near Albuquerque in 1880, a photographer took a picture from the tracks of the trail leading west to the old town nearly two miles away. That view was repeated by many photographers over the decades. The trail would become Central Avenue and US Highway 66, with the pictures telling the story of 146 years of Albuquerque’s downtown.

Bio:

Richard Ruddy was a successful commercial photographer in Albuquerque from 1972 until 2002. He worked for about 1,000 clients during those years amassing thousands of unique images that document Albuquerque during those years. He will share dozens of images that future generations will want to see.

In addition to a career as a photographer, Ruddy has had a long time interest in Albuquerque and New Mexico history. In 2013 UNM Press published his award winning biography of New Mexico Territorial Governor Edmund G. Ross. In 2006 he was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the New Mexico Advertising Federation. Ruddy is a member of the Albuquerque Historical Society, Historic Albuquerque Inc. and the Historical Society of New Mexico. 

September 26

Aimee Tang: Chinese Merchants of Albuquerque’s Route 66 

As Route 66 connected already well-traveled roads from Chicago to Los Angeles via the American Southwest, Chinese merchants on Central Avenue in Albuquerque, New Mexico proved ready to be a welcoming destination along the “Mother Road.” This presentation will feature Fremont’s Fine Foods, a gourmet grocery store in the heart of Albuquerque established by Chinese immigrants in the early 1900’s. 

October 24 

David Montoya:   Land & Acequias along Los Ranchos’ Route 66 

David Montoya inherited his grandfather’s love and respect for the land. He will share stories about early Los Ranchos history along Route 66, including floods, agriculture, acequias and adventures with his grandfather who helped raise him. He recalls visiting nearby pueblos when he was young and remembered his grandfather spoke Tewa and told him he was proud his family had “Indian blood.” 

November 28

Roland Penttila: Little Beaver Town 

In the 1960s, Albuquerque had a theme park showing the west’s history with cowboys, old west towns and Native Americans. The owners collaborated with Fred Harmon who created the comic characters of Red Ryder and Little Beaver. They called it Little Beaver Town, and it was to be a Route 66 main attraction. But that was not to be. 

David Montoya:   Land & Acequias along Los Ranchos’ Route 66 

David Montoya inherited his grandfather’s love and respect for the land. He will share stories about early Los Ranchos history along Route 66, including floods, agriculture, acequias and adventures with his grandfather who helped raise him. He recalls visiting nearby pueblos when he was young and remembered his grandfather spoke Tewa and told him he was proud his family had “Indian blood.” 

October 24 at the Raymond Sanchez Community Center, 9800 4^th Street NW

Gordene MacKenzie: Agriculture, Architecture, Artists, Bootleggers, and Businesses along the Mother Road in Los Ranchos 

Who were the residents? What were their lives like? What did they do and how did they survive and use Fourth street (old Route 66)? What was historic Los Ranchos like during the pre-alignment period from 1926- 1937? The Mother Road played a significant role in shaping history and identity even after the realignment and before the Interstate was built. 

July 25 at the Wheels Museum, 1100 2nd Street SW 

September 26  at the Martha Liebert Public Library, 124 W. Malinche St, Bernalillo