UNM alum creates interactive exploration of Route 66 through New Mexico

Journey through the Route 66 New Mexico towns in Route 66 Connected, a multimedia presentation to celebrate the Centennial. The presentation offers a unique look at the historic significance and multicultural nature of the "Mother Road" in New Mexico and their connections with the modern era. Donatella Davanzo, received her doctorate degree in American Studies from The University of New Mexico.

The project combines an atlas, interactive digital map, photographs and interviews to explore the history of Route 66 across New Mexico. The project was partially supported by grants from the National Park Service's Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program.

At the center of the project is Mapping the Authentic Mother Road: A Cultural and Visual Atlas Through New Mexico, a 156-page guide that documents existing buildings and roadside attractions along the New Mexico stretch of Route 66. The atlas features photographs, annotated maps and photo-driven itineraries highlighting operating facilities and historic sites along the route. It also includes information on architectural styles, historic signage, ethnic cuisine and attractions.

The project examines how the road has changed and continues to function today. The research centers around three themes: tangibility, symbolism and ethnicity.

The tangibility component examines original roadside structures built between 1937 and 1970 and considers their physical characteristics, architectural styles, preservation status and current uses. The symbolism component explores the continued presence of Route 66 imagery through murals, signs and other visual forms. The ethnicity component highlights cultural diversity reflected in historic properties, traditional features and the stories of Native American, Hispanic, African American and other communities.

The project documents 265 operating facilities and 171 historic commercial sites through surveys, interviews and photography conducted from 2022 to 2025. The research resulted in an extensive digital photo repository, an interactive map and the atlas.

The digital map also allows users to explore the route virtually, with photographs and interviews with Route 66 business owners, along with navigation filters and location data. For Davanzo, the project provides an opportunity to look beyond the familiar imagery associated with Route 66 and document the people, businesses and communities that continue to shape the road.

The project grew out of Davanzo's doctoral research at UNM. While working on a project through the Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections to document Route 66 in Albuquerque, she photographed existing buildings, structures and streetscapes along Central Avenue and the pre-1937 alignment on Fourth Street.

"What began as a mere inventory of the built environment became a documentation of Route 66 in terms of cultural landscape," Davanzo said.

The research examines how historic properties have changed to meet contemporary needs. Some motels and gas stations have altered their architecture or uses, while others continue to operate in forms that reflect their original purposes. Davanzo said the changes demonstrate how roadside businesses have adapted to economic and social shifts.

The COVID-19 pandemic also became part of the story. Interviews and observations documented how local businesses and roadside communities adapted during the pandemic and its aftermath.

"While Route 66 historically symbolized post-war freedom and uninhibited American movement, the interviews and the observation of the facilities showed 'then and now' adaptations and a profound layer of resilience," Davanzo said.

For Davanzo, photography is more than a way to illustrate the project. It is part of the research itself.

"Photographs are not merely illustrations, but as a primary ethnographic tool to record how human communities interact with, adapt to, and continue to organize their surrounding landscapes," Davanzo said.

The approach allows the project to examine both the physical features of Route 66 and the cultural stories connected to them.

Ultimately, Davanzo hopes the project encourages people to experience Route 66 beyond its familiar roadside imagery. "My primary goals is to engage travelers, historians, architects, and Route 66 enthusiasts in a 'experience' of Route 66," she said.

The book and interactive map are available through the Route 66 Connected website.