EVENT | ALBUQUERQUE
Explore the state鈥檚 history with the Mother Road at the Route 66: Roads and Rails Festival
Wheels are touching down at the Route 66: Roads and Rails Festival, showcasing everything transportation, from bicycles to the Rail Runner.
The Wheels Museum is hosting the free event at the Albuquerque Rail Yards on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19.
Elizabeth Kirkland, director of development at the Wheels Museum, said while there are many ways for people to interact with vehicles, rarely do they have opportunities to sit in things like a trash truck.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing that makes a 2-year-old happier than seeing the trash truck go by,鈥 Kirkland said. 鈥淪o to get to sit in the seat of a trash truck, I mean, day made.鈥
Leba Freed, president of the Wheels Museum, said the museum is a touchy-feely place where visitors are encouraged to explore and learn.
The Route 66 Roads and Rails Festival is one of the biggest events the museum has hosted, she said, drawing people in internationally.
鈥淲e are living to support our community and make things fascinating for people from all over the world,鈥 Freed said.
Visitors to the festival can see the historic 2926 steam locomotive, an antique bus, cars and many more vehicles on wheels.
Freed said the Rail Yards area is the epicenter of development for the city and the state. She said they do everything they can to showcase the site鈥檚 historic and cultural importance, bringing it back to full, new life.
Freed鈥檚 family has lived in the area since the 1920s and she has seen how the city has changed.
鈥淚 fully understand what it means to live here and to try to make things better here, and how lucky we are to live here. We鈥檙e just trying to help others at all times,鈥 Freed said.
Kirkland said, like the rail yards, Route 66 expanded opportunities for people even more in New Mexico. She wants the public to know all the history and live it at the museum.
鈥淲e want them to remember that it鈥檚 here,鈥 Kirkland said.
Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local 近距离内射合集 Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.