In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century Santa Fe experienced two profound events. The first was in 1880 when the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad opted to bypass Santa Fe and head south to Albuquerque for it's roundhouse and service facilities. The second was in 1937 when Route 66 was realigned to exclude the “Santa Fe Loop” and to proceed virtually straight across New Mexico taking millions of visitors and their millions of dollars through Albuquerque, instead of Santa Fe. The folklore surrounding these two events is intriguing and, as with all good stories, contains a kernel of truth. This monograph is an attempt to separate fact from fiction.
In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century Santa Fe experienced two profound events. The first was in 1880 when the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad opted to bypass Santa Fe and head south to Albuquerque for it's roundhouse and service facilities. The second was in 1937 when Route 66 was realigned to exclude the “Santa Fe Loop” and to proceed virtually straight across New Mexico taking millions of visitors and their millions of dollars through Albuquerque, instead of Santa Fe. The folklore surrounding these two events is intriguing and, as with all good stories, contains a kernel of truth. This monograph is an attempt to separate fact from fiction.