PRIME TIME
10 February 2020
Downtown Walking Tours Resume This Month By Shannon Wagers
I
f you haven’t yet taken advantage of the free walking tours of historic downtown Albuquerque, now might be a good time to add that to your list of fun things to do this spring. The tours are offered every Saturday at 10 a.m. from February through November, and are conducted by 11 volunteer guides—including this writer—on a rotating basis. All are well-acquainted with local history. Whether you’re a visitor,
a newcomer to Albuquerque, or a lifelong resident, you’re almost sure to learn some interesting facts about the history of the Duke City that you didn’t know before.
As cities go, Albuquerque is young. Even the historic villa of Old Town, founded in 1706, is a mere adolescent compared to the ancient cities of Europe and Asia, or some of our nearby Pueblos. Downtown Albuquerque, originally known as “New Town,” is younger still, dating only from the coming
If you go: When: Every Saturday at 10 a.m., through November 28. Tour lasts about two hours. Where: Meet in front of the Century 14 Theater at the southwest corner of First Street and Central Avenue. How Much: Free. Reservations required? No. For more information: Leave message at (505) 289-0586 or email Janet Saiers at jsaiers@msn.com.
of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1880. That event marks the starting point of our tour, which begins at the corner of First Street and Central Avenue, in front of the Century 14 Theater, across from the railroad tracks. From there we make our way westward to Eighth Street, pausing along the way to take a closer look at some of the historic buildings still standing and to talk about some of the men and women who shaped the city’s character. (And no, that doesn’t include Walter White or Saul Goodman of Breaking Bad fame. We stick to real people.) The tour lasts about two hours. No tickets or reservations are required. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, take a water bottle, and please leave pets at home. Special tours for groups of 10 or more can be arranged by calling 289-0586 at least one week in advance.
One caveat: Parking meters are in force on Saturdays and will accept payment for only up to two hours. A better option is to park at one of the several City-owned parking lots and garages in the downtown area. Now in its seventh year, the Downtown Walking Tours are sponsored by the Albuquerque Historical Society in association with Historic Albuquerque Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of our past in the form of written records, photographs, and recorded interviews.
