Best Historic Locations in Albuquerque

This architectural gem earned its unusual name when Isleta Pueblo governor, Pablo Abeita, suggested KiMo, which means "king of its kind" The theater's pueblo/deco architectural style and lavish interior murals make it a true picture palace. Built in 1927 it was one of the main stopping centers during the glory days of Route 66 (Central Avenue). Young entertainers who graced its stage included the likes of Vivian Vance, Gloria Swanson, Tom Mix and Ginger Rogers. The KiMo seats 700 comfortably with an orchestra pit for 30-40 musicians.

San Felipe de Neri is the visual, geographical and spiritual heart of Old Town. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the original Pueblo-style building was constructed in 1793; the distinctive Gothic wooden steeples were added in 1861. Rose gardens welcome the visitor to the church's front courtyard. Stepping into the cool interior you will discover beautiful tin work, vigas (wooden beams) and five feet thick adobe walls.

Layer by layer, history unravels itself in the charming Old Town Albuquerque. A locus of the city's cultural, architectural and historic tenor, Old Town has been the focal point of community life since 1706. The winding alleys of this neighborhood are dotted with traditional houses awash in lovely Pueblo-Spanish architectural influences. This quaint quarter was laid out in the quintessential colonial way, and is home to a string of notable landmarks which attest to the quarter's historical and cultural importance, for example the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, the historic San Felipe de Neri Church and the Plaza, which is perhaps the cultural and communal nucleus of Old Town. Here, wrought iron and adobe bancos (benches) rest under the shade of the plaza, offering a respite from the usually balmy weather year round. Unique items from around the world, as well as those distinctively Southwestern are sold in an array of quirky shops and boutiques. Soaked in old-world charm, Old Town is a part of the city, which can never be forgotten.

Sunshine Building is one of the first high-rise buildings built from reinforced concrete. Bright yellow brick veneer gave the building its name, and trademark features like complex, molded concrete corbels identify the architect, Henry C. Trost. Inside, you can ride to the upper floors one of the only attendant-operated elevators in the Southwest. The building houses a theater, which originally screened silent movies and was the most popular theater in town when it was built back in 1924. It has now been converted to a venue for live performances such as theater, dance, and concerts.