Albuquerque

Past
Albuquerque

Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city, was named to honor a Spanish Duke, the 10th Duke of Alburquerque. Colonial Governor Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdez selected the name, but over the centuries, the first "r" has been dropped.
In 1706, Albuquerque was founded by a group of colonists who had been granted permission by King Philip of Spain to establish a new villa (city) on the banks of the Rio Grande (which means big or great river). The colonists chose a place along the river where it made a wide curve providing good irrigation for crops and a source of wood from the bosque (cottonwoods, willows and olive trees) and nearby mountains. The site also provided protection and trade with the Indians from the pueblos in the area.
The early Spanish settlers were religious people, and the first building erected was a small adobe chapel. Its plaza was surrounded by small adobe homes clustered close together for mutual protection against any threats posed by hostile forces in this vast and dangerous country. The church, San Felipe de Neri, still stands on that spot. The building itself has been enlarged several times and remodeled, but its original thick adobe walls are still intact. The church is the hub of Old Town, the historic and sentimental heart of Albuquerque, with activity revolving around shopping and dining. To this day, special holidays and feast days are still commemorated as part of the year-round attractions of this "original" Albuquerque.
The growth of Albuquerque can be traced to two changes in the early development of the area. First, the Rio Grande changed course moving a little further to the west, causing a slight shift in the population. Second, the railroad came to Albuquerque in 1880, and a "New Town" grew along the tracks two miles east of Old Town. Population increases can also be attributed to Albuquerque becoming an important stop on the Camino Real - the trail from Chihuahua to Santa Fe - and the city’s proximity to the Santa Fe Trail, the Southwest's first superhighway during the westward expansion.
Between 1850 and 1875, many forts were established in the Southwest to protect the westward migration. Albuquerque was a major supply center to these forts. During this same period, merchandising companies that had first shipped goods by covered wagon and then by rail established warehouses and stores in Albuquerque. Manufactured goods from the east were brought in and hides, pelts, livestock, lumber and minerals were shipped out.
Albuquerque never went through the lawless days of the frontier like other western towns. When those times came (the last quarter of the 19th century), Albuquerque already had an established culture of a century-and-a-half old. Much of Albuquerque's appeal today can be attributed to the subtle blending of the many cultures that comprise its fabric: American Indian, Spanish, Anglo, African and Asian. Each has left its mark in food, music, religion, art, customs,
architecture and traditions.
Historic Route 66 weaves through Albuquerque connecting our past, present and future. Albuquerque grew up along Route 66, and it continues to measure the pulse of the city connecting our popular attractions. Beginning with Petroglyph National Monument on the city's far west side, modern day adventurers will pass through the Rio Grande Botanic Garden and the Albuquerque Aquarium, historic Old Town, the Albuquerque Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. The National Atomic Museum will shed light on our nuclear past, present and future. Walking or driving through the downtown area, you'll enjoy the majesty of the KiMo Theatre and the ambiance of diners and restaurants along a revitalized Route 66. Route 66 will guide you through the University of New Mexico and the eclectic personality of the area. Further east, the trendy Nob Hill area is home to many of the city's best restaurants and many eclectic shops and boutiques.
Albuquerque stands with one foot in the past, one foot in the present and both eyes on the future. Home to some of the nation's finest high-tech research facilities including Sandia National Laboratory, Phillips Laboratory and the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque is leading the way in technology transfer. Civilian application of military technology has provided the spark for many an entrepreneur and led to a technological boon. Albuquerque continues to set the pace for success throughout the Southwest as a visitor destination and a great place to live.

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