The Albuquerque City Council is budgeting $300,000 to begin planning for a Route 66 centennial event in 2026.
KRQE-TV quoted city councilor Klarissa Pena, who summarized why she thought the celebration would be important:
“Communities throughout the nation suffered a decline of the historic route when highways were built, so what do we do to bring that economic recover back, and I think, again, post-pandemic, this is our opportunity to really do that.”
The report also noted Albuquerque’s Route 66 Visitor’s Center on Nine Mile Hill, currently under construction, should be open to the public by that year, if not sooner.
Yeah, 2026 seems a distance away. Yet with a milestone such as the 100th anniversary of the world’s most famous road approaching, don’t be surprised to see more such celebration announcements coming from states and cities along the route in the coming months and years. Nationally, the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act was signed into law in December.
In fact, Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell plans such an announcement about the centennial at the Bethany Route 66 Festival next weekend.
(Image of a New Mexico Route 66 shield by Thomas Hawk via Flickr)
Nice! Good to see cities taking it seriously. And this sets a bar of sorts on what a city might commit financially to such an event.
Hopefully Springfield, IL.can make similar plans, and soon.
I can’t wait for 2026, when Route 66 hits 100th Anniversary, It’s going to be HUGE! I hope Route 66 is all put back together by than.