All of the postcards on this post found on eBay. The aerial shots come from this article.
The photograph dates to 1880, when Central as known as “Railroad Avenue.” The postcard dates to the 1920s–you can see how much the area changed in just 40 years
This post explores the history of urbanization in Downtown Albuquerque. The first map of Albuquerque below dates to 1886. The second was made by the Thomas Brothers Map Co. in 1950.
Central and Broadway: Albuquerque High School was built in 1914. It was Albuquerque’s only high school until 1948. It operated as a school until the 1970s. The building now serves as lofts
1st street (looking west): On the old postcard below, you can see the old Y.M.C.A. building, which was constructed in 1915. I’m not sure when it was torn down, but today the site is occupied by One Central ABQ. Across Central was the Alvarado Hotel, built in 1902. Sadly, it was demolished in 1970. The Alvarado Transportation Center was built in its place in 2002. The Hilton Hotel is also visible, which was built in 1939 and today is the Hotel Andaluz.
Here is a postcard, dating to 1910, showing the Alvarado and buildings across from it on 1st street.
As you can see on these postcards, the north side of the street between 1st and 2nd once had a series of buildings that have since been demolished and are now a parking lot.
One of the businesses was the Liberty Café, established in 1918. According to this website, “the Liberty Café was said to be one of the best places to eat on Route 66. It was opened by a Greek-American and billed itself as ‘A Restful Nook for Thirsty Travelers.’ A huge neon sign advertised its presence.” The photos in color date to 1969.
On the south side, the Sunshine Theatre was built in 1924. Today, it is a music venue. Here are some images of the Sunshine. The last dates to 1925. This Instagram post writes that, “in 1883, Joseph Barnett arrived in Albuquerque from New York City. He acquired the luxurious White Elephant Saloon. That exclusively male bastion stood at 2nd St. and Railroad Avenue. Prohibition decimated the city’s numerous lucrative saloons. Barnett employed Henry Trost to design the the Sunshine Building on the site of the old saloon. This 1924 six-story skyscraper, housed a 920 seat movie palace. Carrie Tingley, the mayor’s wife had a reserved seat and attended daily. Currently, the theater is a venue for live music.”
2nd street (looking north) and 2nd street (looking south): these postcard dates to the early 1900s, so is unrecognizable to today’s downtown. One of the only remaining buildings in Albuquerque from this period is the Southwestern Brewery and Ice Company, built in 1899. When the second postcards was made, the Alvarado Hotel likely would have stood (built 1902).
2nd street (looking west): this postcard dates to 1921, before the National Bank was built in 1923 or the Sunshine in 1924, but you can see the “White Elephant” on the spot of the Sunshine! You can also clearly see the Barnett and Armijo buildings (more on this below).
2nd street (looking west): the postcard below dates to the 1940s. The “Barnett Building” once stood on the southwest corner. It has been demolished and is now a parking lot. The first photograph below dates to 1925. The second photograph comes from this website. The third was posted on Instagram, where one commenter wrote that it burned down in the 60s and the other buildings on the southside were torn down in the 80s.
The “N.T. Armijo Building” stood on the northwest corner. The first photograph below dates to 1895, the second to 1930, the third to 1941, the fourth and fifth to 1950, the sixth to 1970. According to the ABQ Public Library, “located at 2nd & Central Avenue NW, then known as Railroad Avenue, the N.T. Armijo Building was constructed in 1892 and demolished in 1969 to make way for a parking lot.” This publication writes that the Grand Central Hotel was located on the third floor of the Armijo Building, which offered extended stays. The State Theater was built in 1949. It still stands and has been remodeled and is a shared workspace.
2nd Street and Gold: as with some of the postcards above, this view is unrecognizable today.
The First National Bank building on 2nd and gold was constructed in 1882. It was sold in 1923 when a new skyscraper was built. The old photographs below come from the Albuquerque Museum.
Across the street was the Cromwell Block Building. The photographs dates to 1890 and 1895. I’m not sure when these buildings were torn down, but they are not listed on the 1950 map at the beginning of the post.
On the northwest corner of 3rd and Central, stands the distinctive First National Bank Building, built in 1923 as Albuquerque’s first skyscraper. The building is now the Banque Lofts.
3rd street (looking west): on the northwest corner of 3rd and Central (across the street from the First National Bank building) used to stand the Giomi Building. I’m not sure when it was built, although the photographs below date to the 1940s. It was either destroyed or significantly renovated, as the postcard featuring the American Bank of Commerce seem to look quite different.
On the corner of 3rd and Central (then called Railroad Avenue), used to stand the Armijo Hotel. Built in 1881, the building was ,”an eye-catching hotel of frame, three stories high with a mansard roof. Owner Mariano Armijo thought that the up-to-date ‘city style’ would attract guests more quickly than the traditional adobe architecture of the hostelries near the plaza.” According to Albuquerque Remembered by Howard Bryan, the hotel was destroyed by a fire in 1897. According to Commercial Cafe, the building there today (“Third Central Plaza”) was built in 1920.
3rd and Gold: the Occidental Life Building was built in 1917
4th street (looking east): these postcards date to before the First National Bank was built in 1923. According to the Albuquerque Museum, the last postcard dates to 1915.
This photograph dates to 1942. You can clearly see the First National Bank Building and Giomi Building. The building with the sign “Federal Credit Clothing Stores” is where Woolworth would be built shortly thereafter.
4th street (looking east): here is a later view, more closely matched to today, as the Rosenwald Building and Woolworth building both still stand.
On the southeast corner of 4th is the Rosenwald Building. It was designed by Henry Trost and built in 1910. It was the first reinforced concrete building in the city.
On the northeast corner of 4th is the Woolworth Building, constructed sometime after 1942. It has been many businesses over the years, currently it is “Bourbon & Boots.” You can see the building in all the images below:
Across from Woolworths used to stand Court Cafe. The black and white photo dates to 1950
4th street (looking south): on the southeast corner you can see the Yrisarri Building, “a classic brick building with a bracketed cornice and arched windows was built in 1909, it housed the first Maisel’s Trading Post.”
4th and Gold: the Old Post Office was built in 1908. Since 2006 it has been Amy Biehl High School
4th and Gold: the New Mexico Bank & Trust Building was built in 1961. The Simms Building was constructed in 1954, atop the Commercial Club, built in 1892.
4th and Gold: at the corner of West Gold Avenue and Fourth Street used to stand Wright’s Trading Post, you can read more information here
5th street (looking east): this view prominently features the KiMo and the McCanna-Hubbell Building. The KiMO Theatre is perhaps the most prominent historic building it downtown Albuquerque. It was built in 1927, fusing art deco with Native American architectural styles.
Here are some more postcards and photographs. that feature the KiMo
The south side of Central, between 4th and 5th, has several important historic buildings. On the southwest corner is the McCanna-Hubbell Building, built in 1915. From 1917 until the mid 1960s, it was the headquarters of the Albuquerque Gas & Electric Company. Today it is the nightclub Effex.
Next to it is the Kress Building, built in 1925 as a department store chain.
Next to the Kress Building is the Melini Building, where J.C. Penney opened a store in 1915. The building was expanded and remodeled in 1949. It then became a Gizmo Store, “it offered a wide variety of Army and Navy work boots, uniforms, and other goods.”
5th street (looking west): the building on the corner across from the KiMo is now 505 Central Food Hall, “originally designed by John Gaw Meem in the mid-1930’s, the building located at 505 Central Avenue had been previously occupied by Sears in the 1940’s. The building was vacant for decades after, until the turn of the 21st century when it was converted to mostly office space.”
Across the street is Lindy’s Diner. Below is a photograph from 1979.
6th street (looking east): the postcards below date to the 1970s. You can see Man’s Hat Shop, which has been open since 1946. On the south side of the street is Maisel’s Indian Jewelry and Crafts store, which opened in 1939 and remained a staple on Route 66 until it closed in 2019.
The black and white photograph below was taken sometime between 1920s and 40s, taken from this article.
On the corner of 6th and Central used to stand the Franciscan Hotel, opened in 1923. It was torn down in 1972 and is now a parking lot.
Here are some more photos of the hotel. The first dates to 1925.
Here is a postcard from the 1920s looking east from the Franciscan.
6th and Copper: the Immaculate Conception School and Church was built in 1883
7th street (looking east): on the south side of Central is the El Rey Theater, which was built in 1941. The black and white photo dates to 1942. On the north side of the street used to stand a Masonic Temple, built in 1912. Below are two old postcards in which you can see the theater and the temple.
The building caught fire and was destroyed in 1967, as you can read in the clips from the Albuquerque Journal.
8th street (looking east): the photograph dates to 1925, on the right side of you can see the Skinner Building, built in 1931. The Masonic Temple & Franciscan Hotel are also clearly visible.
According to this publication, “Robinson Park is the oldest surviving city park in Albuquerque, having been laid out early in the 1880’s.” Here are two old postcard listed on eBay, the first dated to 1919. The gazebo no longer stands.
Here is a postcard seen on eBay of homes in the early 1900s near Robinson Park. One noteworthy one at 809 West Copper once served as the Fez Club of Albuquerque.
Civic Plaza
