Albuquerque - Nob Hill

One of the most romantic roads in U.S. history — Route 66 — runs through the heart of Albuquerque and its Nob Hill area on Central Avenue. The two-mile section of The Mother Road bounded by Girard and San Mateo in Nob Hill is one of the state’s best-preserved segments of the legendary road. Route 66 was realigned in 1937 to run directly west from Tucumcari to Grants, bringing motorists (and development) straight into Albuquerque through the gateway of Nob Hill.

By the beginning of World War II, Nob Hill had grown into Albuquerque’s first suburb. After the war, the population boomed and a building boom followed. In the late 1940s, R.B. Waggoman developed the Nob Hill Business Center, one of the first modern shopping centers west of the Mississippi. The center and the district blossomed into the most fashionable area of town.

Today’s Nob Hill is a sophisticated, vibrant mix of art galleries, antique shops, clothing boutiques, jewelry stores, music venues and theaters. Park your car and walk to explore the eclectic goods available. If your passion is handmade paper, exotic items from foreign lands, collectibles from earlier times, fine clothing and shoes, jewelry and beads, furnishings or toys, you can find it here. When you need a break, refresh yourself at one of the upscale restaurants and cafés in the area. Nob Hill is a neighborhood frequented by locals, so you will also find grocery stores, beauty salons, photo shops and also pet supply stores.

Feel free to join in local area events. Visit Nob Hill galleries on First Friday, the first Friday evening of the month, when art openings, demonstrations and receptions are held throughout the Nob Hill area and nearby Highland District. Take advantage of Sunday Strolls — many Nob Hill stores and galleries are open Sunday afternoons. Other special events include the summer and Christmas Holiday Shop & Strolls which feature musicians, entertainers and refreshments.

Many landmarks from Route 66’s heyday still vie for attention amid the contemporary shops and restaurants of Nob Hill and history buffs can explore noted landmarks of the era. Most of the northeast section of Nob Hill has been designated an historic district on the State and National Registers and Route 66 is both a State and National Scenic Byway. Restored neon signs once again flash, guiding visitors to a vital, intriguing and fun section of New Mexico’s largest city.