Ailing Kicks on Route 66

The old Route 66 guided Americans west to California during the Great Depression, from Chicago to Los Angeles. The route became a symbol of freedom and was well-traveled from 1926 to 1985. It has been since decomissioned as a federal highway and Interstate 40 has swallowed much of Route 66 while reconfiguring parts of it to be more time efficient. All these factors caused many of the popular roadside motels along Route 66 to go out of business, including several in Albuquerque's Nob Hill neighborhood. Some of their signature neon signs that have been celebrated in American pop culture are falling apart.

Recently, The World Monuments Fund put Route 66 on its 2008 list of most endangered sites. Thankfully, there are efforts under way to restore and revitalize roadside motels along Route 66.