A new exhibit at the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, “Balloons Over Route 66,” celebrates the history of Route 66 alongside Albuquerque’s identity as the ballooning capital of the world. From classic cars and diner food to neon lights, Route 66 offers travelers a glimpse into different eras of American history, and the exhibit adds Albuquerque’s ballooning culture to the story. “One of them is being the balloon capital of the world,” the exhibit highlights. The display explores the rise of Route 66 during the age of the automobile and the road trip boom of the 1960s and ’70s, alongside the emergence of ballooning in the 1970s, marked by the first Balloon Fiesta in 1973. “If you think about the rise of Route 66, it was the age of the automobile starting in the 1960s and the ’70s when the road trip really took hold as the great American summer experience,” the exhibit explains. “That’s when ballooning really took off in the 1970s with the first Balloon Fiesta being in 1973.” At the center of the exhibit is a mural by local artist Jessey Sandoval. “This is my vision of Route 66,” Sandoval said. “I had to kind of figure out how to incorporate something from 4th Street. I picked out my favorite signs.” Students also contributed to the exhibit, with some experiencing the Balloon Fiesta for the first time. “I am a military kid, and this year was my first year at the Balloon Fiesta,” one student said. “I watched them all flood the sky. It was so cool and amazing.” Another student shared their creative process.”I wanted mine to stand out with different materials, so I use markers, pens, highlighters. I ended up shading with just a black pen, and I really like the way it turned out,” the student said. The exhibit ties together the history of Route 66 and the spirit of ballooning. “Route 66 is all about the wide open road, and ballooning is all about the wide open sky,” the exhibit said. The tribute celebrates the highway that carried America across the land and the skies that give Albuquerque its magic. The exhibit will run for about a year at the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum.For more information, click here.
A new exhibit at the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, “Balloons Over Route 66,” celebrates the history of Route 66 alongside Albuquerque’s identity as the ballooning capital of the world.
From classic cars and diner food to neon lights, Route 66 offers travelers a glimpse into different eras of American history, and the exhibit adds Albuquerque’s ballooning culture to the story.
“One of them is being the balloon capital of the world,” the exhibit highlights.
The display explores the rise of Route 66 during the age of the automobile and the road trip boom of the 1960s and ’70s, alongside the emergence of ballooning in the 1970s, marked by the first Balloon Fiesta in 1973.
“If you think about the rise of Route 66, it was the age of the automobile starting in the 1960s and the ’70s when the road trip really took hold as the great American summer experience,” the exhibit explains. “That’s when ballooning really took off in the 1970s with the first Balloon Fiesta being in 1973.”
At the center of the exhibit is a mural by local artist Jessey Sandoval.
“This is my vision of Route 66,” Sandoval said. “I had to kind of figure out how to incorporate something from 4th Street. I picked out my favorite signs.”
Students also contributed to the exhibit, with some experiencing the Balloon Fiesta for the first time.
“I am a military kid, and this year was my first year at the Balloon Fiesta,” one student said. “I watched them all flood the sky. It was so cool and amazing.”
Another student shared their creative process.
“I wanted mine to stand out with different materials, so I use markers, pens, highlighters. I ended up shading with just a black pen, and I really like the way it turned out,” the student said.
The exhibit ties together the history of Route 66 and the spirit of ballooning.
“Route 66 is all about the wide open road, and ballooning is all about the wide open sky,” the exhibit said.
The tribute celebrates the highway that carried America across the land and the skies that give Albuquerque its magic.
The exhibit will run for about a year at the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum.
For more information, click here.
