East Mountain Historical Society Announces 2026 Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series

TIJERAS — As the nation prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the “Mother Road,” the East Mountain Historical Society is taking a lead role in bringing the history of Route 66 to life. In a major collaborative effort, EMHS has joined forces with three other regional historical societies to launch the New Mexico Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series, a year-long program of free lectures scheduled throughout 2026.

While the series spans the entire Albuquerque metro area, the East Mountain community will serve as a vital hub for these historical explorations, with many events hosted locally at the East Mountain Library in Tijeras.

A Journey Through the Canyon

For the East Mountain Historical Society, the Centennial is an opportunity to highlight the unique role the mountains and canyons played in the highway’s evolution. A centerpiece of the local schedule is the November 28th presentation by Hazel Lathrop, titled “Tijeras Canyon – Five Miles of Road and Hundreds of Stories.” Lathrop’s research focuses on the period between 1900 and 1950, documenting the families and workers in Tijeras and Carnuel who saw the transition from a rugged canyon pass to a world-famous federal highway.

“The East Mountains are the gateway to Albuquerque on the Mother Road,” says an EMHS representative. “Our goal for 2026 is to ensure the stories of our local agriculture, mountain trade, and the people who lived along these five miles of road are preserved for the next century.”

2026 Monthly Highlights (East Mountain Library)

The speaker series will rotate monthly, ensuring that East Mountain residents can access the full breadth of Route 66 history right in their own backyard.

Key topics include:

Engineering the Road: Roger Zimmerman details the politically charged “rerouting” that shortened Route 66 by 107 miles, involving the treacherous La Bajada Hill and the Rio Puerco crossings.

Cultural Crossroads: Aimee Tang and Lynne Franchini Peckinpaugh will share the stories of Chinese and Italian merchants who built prosperous businesses along the New Mexico corridor.

The Neon Legacy: Photographer Sondra Diepen will present a decade’s worth of visual documentation of abandoned trading posts, ghost towns, and the iconic neon signs that defined the traveler’s experience.

Community Collaboration

The series is a joint venture between the East Mountain Historical Society, the Albuquerque Historical Society, Historic Albuquerque, Inc., and the Los Ranchos Historical Society. The project is further bolstered by support from the City of Albuquerque, City of Rio Rancho, and Bernalillo County.

All lectures are free and open to the public, emphasizing the societies’ shared mission of making local history accessible to everyone.

How to Get Involved

East Mountain residents are encouraged to attend the monthly sessions held at the East Mountain Library (487 NM 333, Tijeras).

When: The 4th Saturday of the month throughout 2026

Time: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Cost: Free

Social Media: Follow the series on Facebook for specific dates and location rotations.

Website: Get more information at the series dates and location rotations right here. https://www.route66speakers.org/

Social Media: Follow the series on Facebook for specific dates and location rotations: https://www.facebook.com/Route66HistoryTalks/