Route 66: Buckle up for a journey through America’s iconic highways.

After World War II, as automobiles and cameras became part of everyday life, Americans set out to document the people, places, and unexpected moments that defined the open road.

Source: New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs
Images: Courtesy

Stop by the New Mexico Museum of Art to view “Roadside Attractions” an exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66, it explores the enduring romance of the American road trip through the eyes of photographers who ventured far beyond the beaten path.

Greg Mac Gregor, Approaching Storm, Highway 41, New Mexico,1998, pigment print, 15 1/2 × 19 7/8 in. Collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Gift of Greg Mac Gregor, 2018 (2018.14.2). © Greg Mac Gregor

Steve Fitch, Capri Motel, Raton, New Mexico, 1980, pigment print,15 × 19 in. Collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Gift of Steve Fitch, 2021 (2021.10.5). © Steve Fitch. Photo by Blair Clark

From Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 passed through the heart of New Mexico—Tucumcari, Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, and Gallup—becoming a symbol of freedom, adventure, and discovery. After World War II, as automobiles and cameras became part of everyday life, Americans set out to document the people, places, and unexpected moments that defined the open road.

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