The Story of Route 66 and Grants

Explore the History of Route 66 in Grants.

Experience 100 years of Route 66 history in Grants, New Mexico! From iconic landmarks to Centennial events, Grants keeps the spirit of America's Mother Road alive. Explore the adventure, charm, and culture that define Route 66.

Explore the spirit of Route 66 in Grants, captured in this Yellowcake series video by 302 Stories.

Grants and the Mother Road.

Long before Route 66 became a symbol of American freedom, Grants, New Mexico was carving out its place in the high desert. Founded as a railroad camp in the 1880s, Grants grew alongside the tracks and later flourished with the arrival of the Mother Road in 1926. Through decades of change, the town has stood as a testament to resilience, adventure, and the enduring spirit of America's westward dreams.

Historic Route 66 sign in New Mexico, featuring a brown background with white text and a highway shield emblem.
Red Santa Fe caboose train car on display in a grassy area with trees in the background.
New Mexico & Route 66

From Railroads to Highways.

Grants began in the 1880s as a railroad camp founded by three Canadian brothers—Angus, John, and Lewis Grant. Originally known as "Grants Camp," the settlement grew along the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, laying the groundwork for the town’s future prosperity.

New Mexico & Route 66

Route 66 Rolls Through.

Vintage photograph of Grants Cafe with a large vertical sign and red arrows, surrounded by mid-20th century cars, and adjacent to a Standard Oil Products station.

In 1926, the establishment of U.S. Route 66 transformed Grants into a bustling stop for motorists crossing the country. Santa Fe Avenue became part of the Mother Road itself, fueling a boom in diners, motels, service stations, and shops that welcomed travelers to the high desert.

New Mexico & Route 66
New Mexico Mining Museum in Grants, New Mexico.

Mining, Tourism & Growth

Grants continued to thrive in the mid-20th century, driven by tourism and the discovery of uranium in 1950. Mining operations fueled the local economy for decades, while Route 66 kept bringing visitors seeking outdoor adventures and small-town hospitality.

New Mexico & Route 66

Grants & Route 66: Today

Today, Grants proudly preserves its Route 66 heritage, honoring nearly a century of history along America’s most iconic highway. Landmarks like the Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru Arch, the New Mexico Mining Museum, and the historic businesses that line Santa Fe Avenue offer visitors a chance to step back in time and experience the enduring spirit of the Mother Road. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, Grants continues to shine as a vibrant reminder of the road’s lasting legacy — where the past, present, and future of adventure come together.

Grants, New Mexico, Historic Route 66 sign with a vintage blue car underneath and scenic landscape background.
New Mexico & Route 66

GET YOUR KICKS…

Adventure awaits along Route 66 in Grants, with trails, museums, shops, and murals to explore. Grab a bite, stay the night, and experience the charm and history of the Mother Road.

 

Southwest Railcams: A Live Window Into Grants' Railroading Past

Southwest Railcams gives train lovers and history buffs a real-time look at Grants' railroading legacy. Streaming 24/7 from inside the Double Six Gallery, the railcam captures BNSF freight trains rolling through the high desert. From its railroad roots in the 1880s to the uranium boom of the 1950s, rail has been central to Grants’ story — and today, that legacy lives on for viewers around the world.

Zia symbol, red circle with four groups of four lines extending outward
Zia sun symbol in red on a white background
Vintage blue car parked under a "Grants, New Mexico, Historic Route 66" sign with a scenic backdrop.
Historic Route 66 & Santa fe Ave: Grants, New Mexico.
Vintage Wayside Motel sign with an office building in a snowy roadside scene, including a distant Sands Motel sign, cars, and snowy mountains in the background.
Vintage black and white photo of police officers in front of patrol cars and a motorcycle with industrial background.
Vintage photo of a mid-20th century streetscape featuring Grant's Cafe sign with red arrows, a building with awnings, classic cars on the road, and a Standard Oil Products station in the background.
Vintage "Bluewater Motel" sign with "No Vacancy" notice against a blue sky.
Sands Motel sign with arrow directing 1/2 block ahead on a road with vehicles parked nearby, under a clear blue sky.
Exterior of the Uranium Miners Building with a metal sculpture or mining structure in the foreground, surrounded by trees and picnic tables.
Open door of a vintage blue car parked on a road with a Route 66 logo painted on the asphalt.
Vintage car in front of a "Grants, New Mexico Historic Route 66" sign with flame graphics.
Fire and Ice park
Aerial view of a park with a pond, walking path, and gazebo; trees with autumn foliage surround the area, and a small creek flows through the park. A residential neighborhood and mountains are visible in the background.
Aerial view of a brightly lit cinema at night with neon lights and a marquee, located on an urban street, with parked vehicles and other buildings in the background.
Sepia-toned historic photo of Grant's Cafe and Cocktail Lounge on Route 66, showing vintage cars parked outside, and adjacent Grant's Service gas station.
"Route 66 Centennial logo for New Mexico, USA featuring the years 1926-2026 and the text 'Grants.'"
Row of Route 66 signs with a Zia symbol over a black background.