NM Route 66 Assoc Newsletter


	Summer 1999 Newsletter page 2

Historic Designation for Historic Route 66 passes Albuquerque City Council

An administrative initiative (R-212) to preserve Historic Route 66 in Albuquerque passed the City Council Monday night, June 7, 1999. The resolution recognizes the two alignments of former U.S. Highway 66, 4th street and Central Avenue as Historic Roadways of the city. Historic Route 66 was key to the growth of the city from the late 1920s to the 1980s when it was decommissioned. The roadway passes through six of the nine city council districts.

The resolution dual-designates municipally, Central Avenue and 4th Street as Historic Route 66. The action gives standing to the municipality to apply for scenic byway funds for preservation and corridor management. Other potential sources of federal funds for Historic Route 66 are being debated in Congress through the work of Senator Pete Domenici, Representative Heather Wilson, the N.M. Congressional Delegation, and at the White House with its Millennium project (see related story this issue).

This dual-designation follows on the heels of the Association's successful work with this year's state legislature and Governor, which passed dual-designation of all state operated former U.S. Highway 66 roads as New Mexico Historic Route 66. The state legislation carried by State Senator Gloria Howes of Gallup and State Representative Gail Beam of Albuquerque and signed by Governor Johnson, was the model for the city of Albuquerque's resolution. Both pieces of legislation require governmental agencies to identify Historic Route 66 on all future maps.

Mayor Baca identified the city?s strategy as important because, "It prepares the city to save an important piece of our cultural history and positions us to take advantage of federal funds to develop our remaining portions of Route 66 and its buildings as a cultural and heritage tourism destination."

The city has 19 designated historic buildings and one historic district related to Historic Route 66. It has dozens more Historic Route 66 buildings yet to be registered. A self guided map and brochure of Central Avenue Route 66 is available through the City's Planning Department or the Albuquerque Convention and Visitor's Bureau. If your city wishes to pursue similar designation it can get a copy of the Albuquerque resolution from Association Vice President Rich Williams by calling (505) 255-4304.

"Road Trip: Route 66" at Albuquerque's UNM Zimmerman Library opens Historic Route 66 Exhibit

The Center for Southwest Research at UNM's Zimmerman Library opened its photographic exhibit June 11th. The exhibit features selected photographs by William J. Lucas, of the scenic and built environments of Historic Route 66. Lucas, an instructor of photography at UNM from 1977-1988, began his photographic image collection of former U.S. Route 66 in the mid-1970s. His entire collection "Images on Route" as donated by he and his wife Joye to the Center. Lucas passed away in 1998. In addition, the exhibit includes different period maps, neon by Absolutely Neon of Albuquerque, displays and books about Historic Route 66.

Over 50 people attended the opening to hear Ed Boles, Preservation Planner of the City of Albuquerque, the keynote speaker. Ed shared the many different visual images and photographic interpretations of the roadway and its related architecture through different photographers' eyes. He shared some of the frustrations and successes of historic preservationists' attempting to preserve the remaining buildings of the highway either through restoration or adaptive reuse.

The Center for Southwest Research maintains an archive for Historic Route 66. Many of the materials which the New Mexico Route 66 Association has collected or generated have been deposited with the archive for future research on the history of Historic Route 66.

The show will be on display for the rest of the summer. The Zimmerman Library is located in the heart of the University of New Mexico's Main Campus, just off of Central Avenue (Historic Route 66) in Albuquerque. For more information you can call (505) 277-6451.

White House Millennium Initiative Launched

The New Mexico Route 66 Association has applied for "Flagship" designation of all remaining portions of Historic Route 66 through the White House's National Millennium Trails Initiative. Carla Sanders, Public Art Administrator of New Mexico Arts (a Division of the state's Office of Cultural Affairs), alerted Association Directors and Advisors attending the annual strategic session in May at the Albuquerque Museum of the White House program. The intent of the initiatives is to select and assist in the preservation of the great treasures of American history and culture before they disappear. One of the categories was the great trails and roads of America.

With only two weeks to the deadline in mid-May, Rich Williams from the Association; Carla Sanders of New Mexico Arts; J. Edson Way, the state's Office of Cultural Affairs Officer; Elmo Baca, Coordinator of the Community Development Team of the state's Economic Development Department; and David Knudson, Director of the National Historic Route 66 Federation completed, collected support materials, maps, photos, newsletters and filed the application on behalf of the roadway nationally.

Edson Way stated in his letter of support, "...this is a road which has become a cultural icon, and it deserves the care and attention which America's most significant monuments receive." Carla Sanders added, "Having a National Millennium Trails designation for Historic Route 66 would be an honor that could serve to bolster the immediate efforts in which we are currently engaged to preserve and promote Route 66. The Millennium Trails designation would benefit all the communities from Chicago to Los Angeles, linked by Route 66 while preserving the legend of the American Road millions have grown up with." David Knudson rounded out the importance of the roadway stating, "Route 66, certainly the most fabled byway in modern times, continues to grow in recognition around the world. Reaching almost mythical proportions, it embraced and guided the massive American migration west..."

First Lady Hillary Clinton was touring the Southwest in an effort to bolster support for selected Millennium projects in late May. Director Sherri Brueggemann was able to talk with her briefly while in Albuquerque to solicit her support for Historic Route 66 nomination.

If Historic Route 66 is chosen, Federal dollars through the White House (specifically dedicated to Millennium projects), may become available. As Elmo Baca put it, "We see Historic Route 66 as an essential resource in historic preservation of our communities as well as future development. The New Mexico Economic Development Department has focused on the importance of transportation corridors as essential linkages between our communities. We strongly encourage you to consider Historic Route 66 as one of America's National Millennium Trails. We hope you will agree with many of us who feel that it achieved this status long ago."

If you wish to support the application for this designation, you can write letters to Marianne Fowler, National Millennium Trails, c/o Rails-to Trails Conservancy, 1100 17th Street, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20036.

Senator Domenici supports Route 66 Commemorative Postage Stamp

U.S. Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico has written the U.S Postal Service asking them to issue a stamp commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Historic Route 66 in 2001. The proposed stamp would appear during the Diamond Jubilee festivities for Route 66 that summer. Letters of support for the proposal should be addressed to Senator Domenici and other U.S. Legislators along Historic Route 66.

Copies of letters should be sent to the Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee, c/o Stamps Administration Advisory Branch, 475 L'enfant, Room 447-4E, Washington DC 20260-2437.

Summer 1999 Newsletter page 2