ROUTE 66 News:
ALBUQUERQUE — In celebration of both the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and America’s 250th birthday, the “Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit” (“Exhibit”) will bring the history, stories and images of the Mother Road to life across New Mexico.
The free Exhibit features nearly two dozen large-scale interpretive panels, audiovisual mini-documentaries, and educational components highlighting the diverse stories of New Mexicans connected by Route 66.
The Exhibit includes four stops in the state:
- Grants, April 25-27;
- Albuquerque, May 6-7;
- Gallup, May 9-Dec. 31; and special events in
- Santa Fe, Aug. 28-30.
“From the glow of neon signs to the steady hum of tires on open pavement, every mile of Route 66 tells a story,” said Exhibit organizer and documentarian Katrina Parks of Assertion Films. “For nearly a century, the road has drawn visitors from around the world and continues to hold countless stories waiting to be uncovered. The Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit brings these stories to life and highlights the humanity of the Mother Road from a variety of perspectives.”
Drawing from Parks’ acclaimed PBS documentary film series, Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road, the traveling Exhibit invites visitors to explore how Route 66 shaped American history, culture, and identity through the stories of the people who lived, worked, and traveled along it.
The Exhibit will debut April 25-27 at the Cibola Arts Center at 1001 W. Santa Fe Ave. in Grants. The opening event will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 25. There will be a special screening at 11 a.m. of episode one of Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road. Josie’s Food Truck will be there all day, and a live performance from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. by Thunder Ridge. On Sunday, April 26, the Exhibit will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an 11:30 a.m. art activity for youth led by artist Marla Allison, originally from Laguna Pueblo, and a 1:30 p.m. film screening followed by a panel discussion at 2:30 p.m. led by the film’s creator, Katrina Parks.
Finally, on Monday, April 27, schools are invited to bring students for special guided tours.
Students will receive “Route 66 passports” and are encouraged to explore the panels and answer questions as they move through the Exhibit. Groups should contact Denise Hanson in advance at grantsmainstreet66@gmail.com to schedule their visit.
The Exhibit will continue on to the WHEELS Museum, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 6 and 7 in Albuquerque. On May 6 at noon, there will be a Route 66 film screening, followed by a panel discussion led by Parks. Food trucks will also be available.
Schools are invited to bring students on May 7. Please RSVP in advance to Leba Freed at leba4@aol.com to reserve school tours, as they will fill up quickly.
Additionally, Routes Bicycle Rentals will offer a special tour to see the Exhibit at WHEELS Museum on May 6. To book or for more information, visit routesrentals.com. The WHEELS Museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1100 2nd St. SW in Albuquerque.
The Exhibit will make its way to Gallup, where it will be on display from May 9 to Dec. 31 at the Rex Museum at 300 W. Historic Hwy. 66. The Exhibit coincides with the Gallup Arts Crawl, 5-9 p.m.on Saturday, May 9. For the duration of the exhibit through Dec. 31, hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
School groups are invited to preview the exhibit the day before the official opening, May 8. Please RSVP in advance to Tammy Moe at tmoe@gallupnm.gov.
Aug. 28-30, the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe will host the Exhibit for three days of special events. The Route 66 films will screen throughout the day.
School groups are encouraged to visit on Friday, Aug. 28. Please RSVP to Christina McCorquodale at chris.mccorquodale@dca.nm.gov.
This project is made possible in part by a grant through the New Mexico Tourism Department and through the support of its valued partners:
- Department of Cultural Affairs;
- New Mexico History Museum;
- City of Gallup;
- Octavia Fellin Public Library;
- Grants MainStreet Project;
- Cibola Arts Center; and
- Wheels Museum.
Additional details about these events, along with general information about the Exhibit, are available at www.route66exhibit.com or by contacting Katrina Parks at info@assertionfilms.com.