[The very short story below, from the website of KOAT in Albuquerque, New Mexico, describes that city’s role in the 2026 celebration of the 100th anniversary of the famous U.S. highway Route 66, a celebration that includes a variety of presence-evoking experiences. For context, an October 2025 story from the University of New Mexico includes this:

“U.S. Route 66, also known as The Mother Road, starts in Chicago, Ill., and ends at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif. It passes through eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, for a total of 2,448 miles. Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026, with events planned along the historic route, including a national kickoff in Springfield, Mo., on April 30, 2026. Cities along the route are celebrating the Route 66 Centennial for a once in a 100-year trip.”

Several sources provide more information, including:

• The original version of the KOAT story, which includes a 2:10 minute video news report
• A story from the City of Albuquerque about the Route 66 Remixed project
• “A Chat with Route 66 Remixed Artists” on the partner company Meow Wolf’s website
• A story from the Route 66 Centennial website about the Route 66 Centennial Immersive Experience Project, which features “screenings of a special Route 66 film produced by Vortex Immersion” at three “dome theaters that utilize 360-degree projection mapping and 5.1 surround sound to create a thrilling immersive experience.”
• A separate KOAT story, with a 23:07 minute video, about the history of Route 66 in Albuquerque
• And more about the famous highway from The Travel and the Historic66 website

–Matthew]

Route 66’s history comes alive in Albuquerque through virtual reality

By Vincent Rodriguez, Digital Content Manager
January 16, 2026

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Route 66 Remixed offers a self-guided immersive experience that transforms the historic highway in Albuquerque into an art-fueled road trip, celebrating its history and culture through digital art and poetry.

“This is a self-guided immersive experience that you can do straight from this website built here out of that,” said Lauren Cason.

The experience combines physical and digital artwork in augmented reality, allowing users to explore the highway’s history through their phone’s camera without needing an app.

“You go straight to the website and we transform spaces, and it transforms spaces into art,” Cason said.

At Route66Remixed.com, visitors can access a map, click on pins, and follow instructions to view virtual images. The project also features poems by local poet Hakim Bellamy, explaining the history of the objects and Route 66.

The experience takes travelers through 18 large-scale public art installations that reflect the stories, traditions, and people who have shaped Albuquerque.

“There is more, there are so many artists here that I didn’t mention, all of them local, all connected, all along the same stretch of the metro,” Cason said.

This historic road is being showcased in a futuristic way as part of the celebration of 100 years of Route 66.