New Mexico Magazine
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06/04/2026
“Route 66 has its own cultural significance,” says Debbie Post of the East Mountain Historical Society. “In American culture, Route 66 represents magic, freedom, and seeing new things. It’s got a vibe.”
For 100 years, the Mother Road has shaped New Mexico, linking the fortunes of towns, tribes, roadside businesses, and generations of travelers. “If you were a boy in Tucumcari seeing a shiny car coming through from Chicago,” says state historian Rob Martinez, “you might get a sense of what life was like in other places.”
Historians, artists, business owners, and longtime residents reflect on the diners, motels, pottery stands, neon signs, family businesses, and memories that grew up along Route 66, and why the road “never seems to lose its allure.”
Read the full story: https://www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/route-66-in-new-mexico/
📸 1. In 1943, Route 66 through Albuquerque bustled with energy. 2. Motorists got a nice welcome to New Mexico as they crossed over from Arizona in 1940.
Something BOLD is rolling into towns across the country. Chex Mix is sporting a new, limited-edition Route 66 Centennial look inspired by the Land of Enchantment and the spirit of the great American road trip. Enter for your chance to win a Route 66 adventure for two and experience New Mexico’s iconic stretch of the Mother Road.
Enter to win at newmexicomagazine.com/chexmixhitstheroad
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C., age 21+ with a valid U.S. driver’s license. Void outside 50 U.S./D.C. and where prohibited. Limit 1 entry per person. Ends 08/31/26. For full Official Rules, visit nmmag.us/rules
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