Near Santa Fe in Santa Fe County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Route 66

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 24, 2025

1. Route 66 Marker

Inscription. You are traveling an early alignment of U.S. 66, perhaps the most well-known road to follow this historic transportation corridor. A Spanish mission trail to Pecos Pueblo, the Santa Fe Trail and the National Old Trails Road all predate the Mother Road in using this narrow passage through rocky terrain. Until the 1930s, Route 66 was aligned through downtown Santa Fe, exited the city to the southwest, traversed La Bajada and passed through the famed “Big Cut” before descending into Albuquerque. In 1937, Santa Fe was bypassed and Route 66 straightened, creating a direct east-west alignment that eliminated 197 miles of travel.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. (Marker Number 739.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the U.S. Route 66 series list.

Location. 35° 33.7′ N, 105° 52.8′ W. Marker is near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in Santa Fe County. It is on Old Las Vegas Highway (State Highway 300) 0.3 miles north of U.S. 285, on the right when traveling south.

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Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Santa Fe NM 87505, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hispano New Mexicans in the US Civil War (approx. 3 miles away); Cañoncito at Apache Canyon (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Seton Village (approx. 3.6 miles away); Southern Rockies / Galisteo Basin (approx. 6½ miles away); Galisteo Basin / Southern Rockies (approx. 6½ miles away); Glorieta Pass Battlefield (approx. 6.9 miles away); a different marker also named Glorieta Pass Battlefield (approx. 6.9 miles away); The Battle of Glorieta Pass (approx. 7½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Fe.

Other

Photographed by Brian Anderson, May 25, 2018

2. Route 66 Marker

markers no longer nearby. Seton Village (was approx. 3.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Glorieta Battlefield (was approx. 6.9 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Brian Anderson, May 25, 2018

3. Route 66 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,147 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 12, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2, 3. submitted on July 9, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.