ROUTE 66 Visitor Center
Located at the western gateway to Albuquerque's iconic 18-mile stretch of Route 66, the new Route 66 Visitor Center welcomes both locals and visitors to explore the city's century-long connection to the Mother Road. Commissioned by the City of Albuquerque, the two 20-foot indoor murals featured below were conceived and designed by Dante Betsch. The eight-month design process was grounded in community engagement, close collaboration with city officials and departments, and an iterative creative process that carried the project from its earliest concepts through final installation and the Route 66 Centennial celebration.
Route 66 Timeline mural
A 20-foot indoor mural reimagining Albuquerque's Route 66 history through a layered photographic timeline of the city's evolving streetscape. Designed by Dante Betsch using archival images provided by the Albuquerque Museum, the mural weaves together historic photographs into a dynamic composition spanning four layered panels of vinyl and plywood, creating a subtle, immersive three-dimensional experience. Fabrication and installation were completed by 5Ton Monkey.
The Mother Road Coloring Mural
A 20-foot interactive mural inviting visitors to explore Albuquerque through a hand-illustrated coloring map of the city's full 18-mile Route 66 corridor. Conceived, illustrated, and vectorized by Dante Betsch, the mural brings together iconic architecture, cultural landmarks, natural landscapes, and neighborhood stories inspired by conversations with community members, visits to lowrider garages, walks through the Bosque, and countless hours exploring the historic corridor. The fully vectorized illustration was printed on six dry-erase panels, allowing visitors to color, erase, and engage with Albuquerque in an interactive way. Fabrication and installation were completed by 5Ton Monkey.