Famed as the Mother Road, the place to get your kicks, “The Great Diagonal Highway” and “The Will Rogers Highway,” Route 66 – the Chicago-to-Los Angeles all-paved highway – has played a major role in American 2oth century history and pop culture. In New Mexico, Route 66 was the life blood of many towns along its trajectory. Today under the guise of Central Avenue, the historic highway continues to figure prominently into downtown Albuquerque’s revitalization.