Focus on Route 66 in New Mexico
The Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act would establish the Route 66 National Historic Trail and help preserve Route 66 for future generations. Urge your Members of Congress to cosponsor and support H.R. 5470 and S. 2887.
Send LettersAlong the over 400 miles of Route 66 in New Mexico, travelers experience all the iconic features of the Mother Road including vintage neon signs, drive-in theaters, legendary restaurants, and roadside icons. Two significant Route 66 alignments in New Mexico provide visitors with a wide variety of experiences after a 1937 realignment removed places like Santa Fe from the main highway and left interesting ghost towns to explore.
In Tucumcari, the iconic neon signage lights up the town including at the Blue Swallow Motel and visitors can enjoy great eats at the historic La Cita Restaurant. A visit to Gallup showcases the history of Route 66 and railroad communities, which further tells the intertwined story of American transportation routes.
Explore the stories of Route 66 in New Mexico and learn how you can celebrate and advocate for the route in 2026.
Route 66 Centennial Events in New Mexico
Millions of Route 66 supporters and dozens of communities along the Route 66 corridor will celebrate the Mother Road’s 100th birthday in 2026 with events, commemorations, and advocacy. This year, join the National Trust and our partners in New Mexico and be a part of the multi-state centennial celebration:
Centennial Caravan
Connect with the Centennial Caravan traveling from Santa Monica, CA to Chicago, IL as we visit with Route 66 communities and continue preservation efforts. Meet the Caravan in California from June 5 to 8 and learn more about our daily stops and full schedule.
Route 66 Summerfest
Route 66 Summerfest is the premier centennial festivity for Albuquerque! This year’s event will celebrate all the eras of Route 66 along the one-mile stretch in Nob Hill. This party will feature all of your favorites with live music, fresh food and treats, shopping from local artisans, activities for the kids, show cars, and all the flare Nob Hill has to offer. It will be a celebration for the ages you won’t want to miss!
Main Street of America ROAD SHOW
The Main Street of America ROAD SHOW features a traveling film screening at theaters located in the eight Route 66 states for the new feature documentary: Route 66: The Main Street of America. The first screening in New Mexico will take place on October 1, 2026 in Albuquerque, New Mexico followed by screenings in Tucumcari, Santa Rosa, and Santa Fe.
National Trust on Route 66 in New Mexico
For over 35 years, the National Trust has worked alongside our partners to preserve Route 66 as part of our ongoing Preserve Route 66 campaign that includes over $2.3 million in grantmaking across the eight Route 66 states, advocacy for federal legislation, traveling the route to document its rich history, and supporting Route 66 sites as part of other initiatives like the list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places and Backing Historic Small Restaurants.
In New Mexico, fifteen Route 66 sites to-date have received over $217,000 in grants to support critical preservation work that helps enable small businesses and prized community landmarks to thrive and continue to tell their piece of the Route 66 story. Grantees in New Mexico include the 1935 Odeon Theater in Tucumcari for essential exterior facade repairs and the American Indians and Route 66 Mapping Project in Albuquerque to continue documenting the unique stories and experiences of Native American tribes along Route 66.
photo by: Sammy Yuen
As part of his Route 66 project "Shared Lines" artist Sammy Yuen imagined a neon sign for the International District.
In 2022, the National Trust, the City of Albuquerque, and local art nonprofit Friends of the Orphan Signs, were awarded a A $75,000 National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant, which enabled a collaborative process that brought local artists and residents together to co-create a new illuminated gateway sign for the centennial.
Stay tuned for the next round of Preserving Route 66 grant opportunities for Route 66 Legacy Businesses and Route 66 Sites in Fall 2026.
Stories of New Mexico's Route 66 on Google Arts and Culture
In 2026, the National Trust for Historic Preservation partnered with Google Arts & Culture to launch a new theme page as part of its work to preserve the Mother Road. This project—an Official Route 66 Centennial Project recommended by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission—was developed in collaboration with over 20 additional partner organizations resulting in over 130 stories that take you across all eight states on the Mother Road, including New Mexico.
photo by: La Cita Restaurant
Exterior of the La Cita restaurant.
Advocate for Route 66
What better 100th birthday present for Route 66 than a National Historic Trail designation? We need your help to make that happen!
Your elected officials in the House and Senate need to hear from you about why Route 66 matters to you and the importance of preserving its rich history. This Centennial year is a pivotal moment to designate Route 66 as a national historic trail and help preserve Route 66 for the next 100 years and beyond.
Ask your Member of Congress to cosponsor and support the legislation during 2026 by sending them a letter and sharing this link widely with your community, meeting with congressional staff in their Illinois offices, and inviting elected officials to join you for a Route 66 site visit or event.
Here are some additional resources to help with your advocacy:
