A new exhibit at the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, ‘Balloons Over Route 66,’ celebrates the history of Route 66 alongside Albuquerque’s identity as the ballooning capital of the world. The exhibit explores the rise of Route 66 during the age of the automobile and the road trip boom of the 1960s and ’70s, alongside the emergence of ballooning in the 1970s, marked by the first Balloon Fiesta in 1973.

Local Artist’s Vision

At the center of the exhibit is a mural by local artist Jessey Sandoval. ‘This is my vision of Route 66,’ Sandoval said. ‘I had to kind of figure out how to incorporate something from 4th Street. I picked out my favorite signs.’ Students also contributed to the exhibit, with some experiencing the Balloon Fiesta for the first time.

The exhibit ties together the history of Route 66 and the spirit of ballooning. ‘Route 66 is all about the wide open road, and ballooning is all about the wide open sky,’ the exhibit said. The tribute celebrates the highway that carried America across the land and the skies that give Albuquerque its magic.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.