New Mexico Route 66 Research Page

These sites are gathered for further research in aid of versilimilitude for my Rick Walker series of 50's noir detective novels, and are available to my readers who may envision a trip along Route 66 'someday'. You can take a virtual trip among the links below, or better yet, get off yer butt and jump in the old Chevy and mosey out on a real road trip.

Most of the travel on Route 66 was East-to-West, especially during the migrations of The Great Depression – the 'Dust Bowl' Era – and of World War II and the post-war boom. The route thus officially begins on Adams Street in Chicago, Ilinois and wends its way along 2,448 miles and thru eight states to terminate at the bluffs in Santa Monica, California overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The highway was established in 1926 and was eventually replaced by the Interstate highway system. Official deactivation of Route 66 (27 June 1985) stirred up grass roots enthusiasm, and many state and local associations were formed, fancy signs installed, and now there are dozens of celebrations – outdoor fairs, antique car meets & parades, conventions – along Route 66 every year.

Rehoboth, NM
Coolidge, NM
Thoreau, NM
Zuni Mountain Lodge near Thoreau, NM
Prewitt, NM
Bluewater, NM
Milan, NM

direct route (post-1937)
Mesita, New Mexico to Albuquerque, New Mexico down Nine-Mile Hill

City of Santa Rosa, New Mexico 88435
odd thing: the Santa Rosa street address numbers seem to have been revamped
in 2005 or so: both sets come up in Google searches
Santa Rosa [NM] Route 66 Auto Museum [est. 1999]
La Loma Motel on Old Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Comet II Cafe on Old Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Joseph's Bar and Grill [est. 1956], 1775 Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Route 66 Restaurant on Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Santa Fe Grille, 2249 Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Silver Moon Cafe [est. 1959], 2545 E. Highway 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Sun & Sand Restaurant, 1124 Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Visiting this webpage from outside the U.S.A.? It is possible to make purchases from these coded Amazon (USA) links
via other Amazon sites: just follow these instructions.

	Historic Route 66 tin sign (AllPosters.com shut down their affiliates program in June 2015) Desperate Enterprises 12" wide by 16" tall tin sign [2012] for $8.91 from Amazon
	"Route 66 Across New Mexico: A Wanderer's Guide" [1991] by Jill Schneider; photography by D. Nakii Univ NM Press 8¾x6½ pb [8/91] out of print/used
	"New Mexico Route 66 On Tour: Legendary Architecture From Glenrio To Gallup" [2001] by Don J. Usner, Foreword by Elmo Baca Museum of New Mexico Press 9x7 pb [7/2001] for $26.09 Museum of New Mexico Press 9x7 pb [7/2001] out of print/used
	"Images of America: Route 66 In New Mexico" [2010] by Joe Sonderman Kindle Edition from Arcadia Publng [2/2010] for $9.99 Arcadia Publng 9¾x6½ pb [2/2010] for $14.95 Arcadia Publng 9½x6¾ hardcover [2/2010] for $25.89